Buckingham Palace is said to be dealing with an unexpected setback just days before Donald Trump’s high-stakes State Visit to the United Kingdom. Palace aides had been working carefully to avoid any controversy surrounding the visit, but fresh headlines about Prince Andrew have created an unwanted distraction.
Andrew, still under public scrutiny for his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, has resurfaced in the news after a sudden shake-up in Downing Street. Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, recently dismissed Peter Mandelson from his new role as British ambassador to the United States over past links to Epstein. The decision has left the UK without an ambassador just as Trump is set to arrive, further complicating preparations.
According to a diplomatic source who spoke with the Daily Mail, “The Palace has been grumbling about how unhelpful it all is,” while King Charles III reportedly views the situation as an “unwelcome distraction.”
The tensions come on top of existing unease within the Palace about hosting Trump for what will be his second State Visit. The visit was initially meant to be an informal meeting, especially after his previous controversial remarks, but the UK government pushed ahead with a full State Visit to strengthen ties—even if it meant going against the King’s preference for a lower-profile approach.
Speaking to the Daily Beast earlier this year, a former courtier described the situation as “embarrassing” for the Palace, revealing that Charles had hoped to delay the high-profile event. “Charles has been bounced into doing it now by Trump,” they said. “It’s embarrassing for the Palace, which suggested a more low-key visit at first, but Trump saw that as an attempt to stall him.”
With the spotlight drifting back to Andrew and no ambassador in place, the Palace is now facing renewed pressure as it prepares to host Trump in the coming days.
