• Mié. Feb 11th, 2026

Royals face Epstein scandal despite hopes William’s Saudi trip would shift attention

Michael Bunting

PorMichael Bunting

Feb 11, 2026
Prince William boards a plane to leave Saudi Arabia. Pic: PA

The rewritten version of the content is as follows:

We found ourselves in a momentary predicament when we temporarily lost track of Prince William. Hastening through the narrow alleyways of the Old Town of Al Ula in Saudi Arabia, our guides eventually assisted us in catching up with him. They had to quickly change his arrival location due to his delayed lunch. The situation was quite chaotic, but for his aides, the urgency to get him to his plane on time to return home was unlike any challenge they had encountered before.

This week has been a revealing one for the royal family as they grapple with the Andrew and Epstein scandal. The incessant clamor directed at both the prince and the King, coupled with the discovery of more incriminating documents, has dominated the headlines. Hopes were pinned on the Prince of Wales’ visit to Saudi Arabia, a significant diplomatic mission, to divert some of the attention.

Despite concerted efforts to portray the trip as forward-looking, showcasing Prince William with children and women, the overshadowing presence of the Epstein files scandal proved insurmountable. The visit was always going to be a delicate balancing act, given the human rights concerns in the region, notwithstanding the positive social initiatives. However, the looming Epstein scandal overshadowed all other aspects of the visit.

The demand for the royals to address the public has been immense. However, the risk of divulging more information threatens to eclipse the significance of the statements released earlier in the week by William, Kate, and Buckingham Palace. It’s evident that there were tense deliberations preceding the release of these statements, as remaining silent was not a viable option.

The royal family continues to grapple with the public’s desire for transparency and accountability. While there has been a shift in their willingness to share personal stories on camera in recent years, it remains within their control. Whether they will succumb to public pressure and address the growing concerns remains uncertain.

The cloud of the Andrew and Epstein scandal has lingered over the royal family for 15 years, first with the Queen and now with Andrew’s brother, the King, taking unprecedented measures to distance themselves from the controversy. Despite mounting evidence linking Epstein to royal properties, Andrew’s maintained contact is viewed as his personal responsibility, not reflective of the wider family or the institution.

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Michael Bunting

Por Michael Bunting

“I’m Michael Bunting, Communications Director with over 20 years of experience in corporate reputation, crisis management, and digital strategy. I have led teams in multinational companies and agencies, advised executives, and designed high-impact strategies. I am driven by transparency, innovation, and leveraging communication as a competitive advantage.”

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