Duke reportedly gave “unequivocal” assurances during private discussion years ago
King Charles is said to have confronted his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor about his links to Jeffrey Epstein during a private conversation held years before the scandal fully unfolded.
According to royal author Robert Jobson, the discussion took place around 2013 or 2014, when early reports about Andrew’s association with Epstein began to surface. Speaking previously to Hello!, Jobson described it as a “massive conversation” between the two brothers.
At the time, Andrew reportedly offered what were described as “complete and utter” reassurances, insisting he had done nothing wrong. Jobson stressed that these assurances were “unequivocal,” suggesting Andrew was firm and direct in his defence.
Despite this, the conversation did not entirely put concerns to rest. Jobson claims there were lingering doubts on Charles’s side, particularly about Andrew’s judgement and role within the monarchy.
Those concerns, he suggests, were not new. Tensions had existed for years, with Charles reportedly sceptical about Andrew’s suitability for certain royal duties. When Andrew took on a prominent ambassador-style role after leaving the navy, it was said to have been encouraged by the late Queen, even as Charles questioned whether his brother had the necessary diplomatic experience.
The dynamic between the two has often been described as uneven, shaped by the traditional “heir and spare” divide within royal life. Jobson compares it to the well-known imbalance seen in other royal sibling relationships, where one carries the weight of the future crown while the other navigates a more uncertain path.
While Andrew’s past controversies have since intensified public scrutiny, this earlier exchange offers a glimpse into how concerns were already being discussed behind palace doors long before they became global headlines.
