Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, have released a rare and carefully worded public statement expressing that they are “deeply concerned” by newly unsealed U.S. court documents detailing Prince Andrew’s longstanding ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The statement, issued late Wednesday through Kensington Palace, marks the first time the Prince and Princess have directly addressed the Epstein files publicly, coming amid growing scrutiny of the Duke of York’s past associations and renewed calls for transparency from senior royals.

The latest batch of documents, released on Tuesday by a New York federal court as part of Virginia Giuffre’s settled defamation lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell, includes previously redacted references to Prince Andrew. The files contain allegations from multiple Epstein victims describing Andrew’s frequent presence at Epstein’s properties, including his private island, as well as claims of inappropriate behavior. While no new criminal charges have been filed against Andrew – who settled a civil suit with Giuffre in 2022 for an undisclosed sum – the fresh details have reignited public and media pressure on the royal family to clarify his continued association with the disgraced financier.

The Prince and Princess’s statement was deliberately brief: “The Prince and Princess have followed the recent developments in the Epstein case with deep concern. They believe the truth must come out and justice must be served for all victims.” The carefully neutral language avoids any direct reference to Prince Andrew, but royal sources say the couple felt compelled to speak after weeks of mounting headlines and questions about the monarchy’s handling of the scandal. “William and Catherine have always been clear that they support victims of abuse,” a Kensington Palace aide said. “They felt silence at this stage would be misinterpreted.”

The statement also comes at a delicate moment for the royal family. King Charles III is currently undergoing ongoing treatment for cancer, Prince William has taken on additional duties, and Prince Andrew remains stripped of military titles and public roles but still retains his HRH style and residence at Royal Lodge. Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and Buckingham Palace reiterated on Wednesday that “the Duke of York is not involved in any ongoing legal proceedings related to Mr. Epstein.”

Public reaction has been swift and polarized. Supporters of William and Catherine praised the statement as “measured and principled,” while critics accused it of being “too little, too late.” #RoyalStatement trended with 1.4 million posts, many calling for Andrew’s complete removal from public life. Others questioned why the Prince and Princess chose now to speak, given the files have been unsealed in stages since 2019.

The Epstein documents continue to reveal connections between the financier and high-profile figures, though no new allegations of criminality against Andrew have emerged in this batch. Giuffre’s legal team has indicated more files may be unsealed in 2026 as appeals wind down.

For William and Catherine, the statement is a rare foray into a scandal that has shadowed the monarchy for years. It reaffirms their commitment to victims while carefully maintaining distance from Andrew’s personal legal matters. Whether it quiets critics or fuels further debate remains to be seen – but in a monarchy under constant scrutiny, silence is no longer an option.