An anti-monarchy organisation, known as Republic, has garnered attention for its recent protest activities, particularly at royal events. The group made headlines on 13 July when two of its activists managed to infiltrate Buckingham Palace, raising serious questions regarding the royal family’s awareness of allegations surrounding Prince Andrew’s associations with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
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The activists entered the Throne Room of Buckingham Palace during public tours, holding up a large image featuring Prince Andrew and Epstein, taken during a stroll in New York’s Central Park in 2010. The picture was accompanied by a striking yellow banner emblazoned with the question, “What did you know?” Their audacious act came as a direct challenge to the royals, aimed at prompting accountability from King Charles and Prince William regarding Andrew’s conduct.
Republic’s CEO, Graham Smith, issued a statement asserting that the group’s actions were intended to bring vital questions to the very heart of the monarchy. He expressed disbelief that Charles and William could remain uninformed about the numerous allegations against Andrew, implying a significant lapse in ostensible royal oversight. Smith vowed that the group would persist in demanding answers, declaring, “The monarchy survives on secrecy, and that secrecy has to stop.”
This incident is not an isolated one; Republic has consistently made its presence felt at various royal occasions. With their distinctive yellow banners and slogans such as “Not my King” and “Down with the crown”, the group has disrupted events like Trooping the Colour and Commonwealth Day services. The protest at Trooping the Colour in June also featured activists showcasing details from the Department of Justice’s files on Epstein, further amplifying the calls for transparency.
The fallout from Andrew’s connections to Epstein has long plagued the monarchy. In 2019, he stepped back from public duties following a controversial interview with the BBC, where he addressed his ties to Epstein. Subsequently, Queen Elizabeth stripped him of his military titles and patronages. The former Duke of York later settled an out-of-court lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre, who had accused him of sexual assault, for an undisclosed sum in early 2022.
King Charles’s actions to strip Andrew of his royal titles in October 2025 reignited scrutiny surrounding the prince’s problematic associations. This occurred amid heightened public interest and new evidence, including explicit email exchanges with Epstein and condemning photographs that surfaced. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, as he is now known, has persistently denied any allegations of wrongdoing.
Further complicating matters, Andrew was arrested in February for suspected misconduct in public office, with police probing allegations that he had shared confidential information with Epstein during his tenure as a UK trade envoy. In May, Thames Valley Police revealed that the investigation would also encompass claims of sexual misconduct, raising the stakes as public scrutiny intensified.
The Times recently reported developments in the ongoing investigation, indicating that detectives were set to visit Giuffre’s family in the United States to gather more information. This investigation underscores the seriousness of the claims against Andrew and the potential implications for the broader royal family.
The timing of Republic’s protest raises questions about the monarchy’s ability to navigate the ongoing allegations and public discontent. As the group continues to campaign for the abolition of the monarchy, it remains to be seen how the royal family will address the persistent fallout from the scandals engulfing Prince Andrew.
As Buckingham Palace remains open to public tours, it appears that the blending of activism and tourism may provide a new front in the ongoing dialogue about the future of the monarchy in the UK. With calls for clarity and accountability echoing within the hallowed halls of royal tradition, the monarchy’s next moves will likely be scrutinised more than ever.
In an era where public sentiment is shifting, and the secrecy traditionally associated with the royal family faces increasing challenges, the unfolding events signal a significant moment of reckoning for both the institution and its critics.