Queen must meet with Epstein victims during US visit, Harriet Harman urges

Baroness Harman, the UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls, told Andrew Marr Queen Camilla is already due to meet survivors of male violence against women and girls, and argued Epstein’s victims should be included.

The Labour peer said: “I think it would be very good if, as well as meeting other victims of male violence, which she's scheduled to do anyway, she does meet the Epstein victims.

"And what a message that would send to all around the world about how the UK really believes that there must be an end to male abuse of women and girls.”

Baroness Harman added: “They've asked to see her, if she refuses to see them when she is seeing other victims of abuse, it wouldn't sit with what she does all the time, and what she's been doing, since long before she became Queen.”

She said such a meeting would not only strengthen ties between the UK and the US, but also help “turbocharge the protest against male violence against women and girls.”

Charles and Camilla’s four-day trip to the US at the end of the month comes amid a worsening UK-US relationship after verbal attacks by President Donald Trump on the British military, its Nato allies and Sir Keir Starmer.

Read More: King Charles' visit to the US must be cancelled - the dangers are too great, writes Andrew Marr

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Camilla has made combating domestic abuse a key focus of her charity work. She is a patron to SafeLives and actively supports organisations like Refuge and Women’s Aid.

The Queen recently invited Gisele Pelicot, 73, to her official London residence after Camilla wrote to the rape survivor praise her "extraordinary dignity and courage".

Ms Pelicot's ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, was jailed for 20 years for drugging and raping her and allowing other men to rape her while she was unconscious, in abuse which lasted nearly a decade.

The historic US visit, the King’s first visit as monarch, will mark the 250th anniversary of American independence and herald the start of celebrations across the US.

The Prime Minister suggested in the Commons on Monday that the visit, from April 27-30, would build “bonds” after Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey voiced concerns about Charles being embarrassed by Mr Trump and called again for the trip to be cancelled.

Charles and Camilla will mark the milestone at a “block-party”.

The royal couple, who will begin their visit with a private tea hosted by the President and First Lady, will also commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks that brought down New York’s Twin Towers.

There have been repeated calls by US congressman Ro Khanna and the family of Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre for a meeting with the King and Queen, and the Mail on Sunday reported that the Queen had been approached by victims’ rights groups.

The legal implications of Charles and Camilla coming into contact with any survivors of paedophile financier Epstein, and the King’s constitutional position, make a meeting impossible while there are ongoing UK police investigations into matters related to Epstein.

The royal family has been dealing with the issue of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor for years, disgraced by his association with Epstein and recently arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, over his connection with the paedophile, and released under investigation.

Andrew, stripped of his titles by his brother the King, has long faced separate accusations of having sex with Ms Giuffre three times, including when she was 17, and also during an orgy after being trafficked by the financier.

The former prince has denied the allegations.

A source said: “There is no deviation from the guidance that we’ve previously issued, that it will not be possible during this state visit for a meeting to take place of the kind that has been suggested.

“We fully understand and appreciate the survivors’ position, but can only reiterate that our position is clear that anything that could potentially impact on ongoing police inquiries and assessments and any potential legal action that could result from that would be to the detriment of the survivors themselves in their pursuit of justice.

“You’ll be aware of his majesty’s clear constitutional position, not least with regards to the judicial process, and even though the risk may be small that a meeting or any public comments could impact on those inquiries, or the proper course of the law, that is a risk that we simply can’t take, for the best interest for the survivors themselves.”

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey asked the Prime Minister about the comments in the House of Commons during Prime Minister's Questions.

Sir Ed told the Commons: “In a phone call with Sky News last night, President Trump has threatened to rip up his trade deal with the UK as punishment for us not joining his idiotic war in Iran.

“This must be the last straw. Surely, the Prime Minister can’t send our King to meet a man who treats our country like a mafia boss running a protection racket?”

In his response, the Prime Minister also rejected the Lib Dem leaders’ calls to cancel the King’s visit to the US.Sir Keir said: “In relation to the King’s visit, this the purpose of the visit is to mark the 250th anniversary of relations and independence, obviously, of the US.

“The monarchy is an important reminder of the longstanding bonds and enduring relationship between our two countries, which are far greater than anyone who occupies any particular office at any particular time.”