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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been criticised by a former royal chaplain for showing "no sign of repentance" for his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Gavin Ashenden, who acted as chaplain to Queen Elizabeth II between 2008 and 2017, suggested the former prince's lack of public regret about his friendship with Epstein could become a "real problem" for the Royal Family.

He also warned that King Charles only has so much power over his brother's actions, and won't be able to force the disgraced duke to aid US authorities in their investigations, despite mounting public pressure for him to do so.

"The King can offer his advice, but he's not the kind of king who can force someone to do anything," Rev Ashenden told Premier Christian News. "No one can force Andrew to go and incriminate himself in America."

He highlighted Andrew's failure to show any "sign of repentance" as a "real problem" and speculated that the reputational fallout for the monarchy could be far from over.

"We don't know quite how much damage it will do the Royal Family," he said. "I'm sure it's not over yet."

The former Duke of York agreed to stop using his royal titles and honours last October, shortly before the king stripped him of his right to be a prince and removed his dukedom.

A fresh batch of Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice in January reignited public discourse about Andrew's relationship with the late financier, however, and sparked a police investigation into whether he shared confidential reports from his role as the UK's trade envoy with the convicted sex offender.

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Buckingham Palace said on Monday that the king was "profoundly concerned" by the allegations, with the palace "standing ready to support" the police in their inquiries.

The former duke has always denied any wrongdoing.

Andrew previously paid Virginia Giuffre millions to settle a civil sex case in 2022 after she alleged she was forced to have sex with him three times, including when she was 17, which he vehemently denies.