Top News

The King was ambushed by a heckler during a royal outing in Cornwall today, with shouts from the crowd asking him "how long have you known about Andrew?". A male voice could be heard clearly over the band playing in St Austell, Cornwall, asking the monarch about his brother Andrew's associations with the billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Elsewhere in Oxford, Princess Anne, Andrew's older sister, also received similar questioning from protesters, with one asking: "Anne, how long have you known about Andrew and Epstein?". The Princess Royal was attending an event at Wadham College in the University of Oxford on Tuesday and was later expected at an agricultural conference.

King Charles took decisive action in relation to the Epstein scandal in October by ordering Andrew to be stripped of his titles and princehood. His Majesty issued a statement alongside Queen Camilla at the time saying: "His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew. Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor."

The statement continued: "Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse."

Andrew has also been forced to leave his Royal Lodge mansion in Windsor and been sent to a modest farmhouse on the King's Sandringham estate. He was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office and later released under investigation. No charges have been brought.

Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to his friendship with the billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The Royal Family has been reeling in recent weeks from the fallout of a huge tranche of so-called Epstein Files released by the US Department of Justice. The damning stash included more photos of Andrew with Epstein, as well as correspondence which appeared to show the pair remained friends after Epstein's conviction for soliciting sex with a minor in 2008.

The King appeared unfazed by the hecklers in the South West, and he joined Queen Camilla for a tour of the Eden Project in Cornwall, an environmental greenhouse site very close to the King's heart.

Perhaps needing a drink after all the Andrew headlines, their Majesties headed to the Market House in St Austell town centre for a beer, but sadly the Monarch was only able to pull a pint of alcohol-free ale, named Proper Job.

As his brother and sister toured the country, a team has started searching through records related to Andrew's former role as a trade envoy, but signalled it would take time before they are ready to release.

Sir Chris Bryant said a team was working through "complexities" as they looked through records spanning "multiple legacy bodies and formats". Ministers agreed in February to publish files related to the former Duke of York's appointment to the post.

It came after the Liberal Democrats tabled a humble address in Parliament calling for the publication of papers on Andrew's role, including any vetting and any correspondence from Lord Peter Mandelson.

The former duke faces accusations of sharing sensitive information with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein while acting as a special representative for trade and investment between 2001 and 2011.

Sir Chris said: "We have begun searching historic departmental records and have commissioned parallel searches in other departments, in particular the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Cabinet Office.

"We have established a process with the Cabinet Office and Thames Valley Police to ensure that any material released does not prejudice the police investigation."

Express.co.uk have contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.