King Charles and Queen Camilla came under fire during their recent U.S. visit for not visiting victims of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, and insiders have now revealed why. The English royalty made a visit to America from April 27–30 to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. The visit was also meant to strengthen relations between the two countries.

According to a senior U.K. government source, Donald Trump is known to have a “clear affinity for the royal family.” That said, while the royals had a stacked schedule, the two couldn’t take time out to meet the Epstein survivors. Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna even wrote a letter to the monarch to meet the victims in order to hear from them “how powerful individuals and institutions failed them.”

The matter was deeply controversial because one of the accused in the Epstein scandal was the king’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The former Prince Andrew was stripped of his royal titles and was even arrested, following a report that claimed that Andrew was leaking state secrets to Jeffrey Epstein.

Since then, Congress has sought testimony from the former prince. However, according to Congressman Khanna, the prince never replied. That said, according to Radar Online, a royal insider has revealed why the monarch avoided meeting the Epstein victims. The source has claimed that the royals have an “enormous sympathy” for the survivors and recognize their “courage.” However, “strict constitutional boundaries” have compelled the king to act a certain way.

The insider reiterated Andrew’s “legal” claim, stating that “any engagement” with the victims could be viewed as “intersecting with legal processes or official assessments,” which could in turn create difficulties. The source has revealed that choosing not to meet the victims was “ultimately in the best interests” of both parties.

The insider claims that the royal family is still dealing with former Prince Andrew’s name appearing in the Epstein Files. Any decision connected to that subject is examined intensely, which inevitably makes planning around it extremely complicated,” another source revealed. “There is a desire to avoid any action that could distract from the purpose of the state visit or create unintended consequences for those seeking justice and accountability.”

The insiders have claimed that the king and queen “recognize the significance of the survivors’ experiences and the importance of their pursuit of justice” they remain constrained by bureaucratic protocols. “Charles’ constitutional responsibilities also mean he must exercise caution whenever there is even a theoretical possibility of influencing legal matters,” the royal source said. “The assessment has been that maintaining a clear distance from anything connected to ongoing processes is the most responsible course of action.”