Prince Andrew will not attend a state dinner hosted by King Charles for U.S. President Donald Trump during the president’s two-day visit to the United Kingdom beginning Sept. 16, sources told Page Six, a decision that adds to the king’s recent public embarrassment over his brother.
Palace sources described the exclusion as consistent with Andrew’s status as a non-working member of the royal family, and said a slate of senior royals, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, will attend. The state events are expected to be held at Windsor Castle rather than Buckingham Palace, which is undergoing major renovations.
The decision follows sustained controversy around Andrew’s past relationship with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Andrew was stripped of military titles and royal duties by his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, amid public outcry over the association. He has denied allegations of wrongdoing.
Andrew reached a financial settlement with Virginia Giuffre, a woman who accused him of sexual misconduct, resolving a U.S. civil claim in February 2022, according to reporting. Giuffre, who had been a prominent Epstein accuser, died in April at age 41, a development that intensified public scrutiny and renewed calls from campaigners and some lawmakers for further action.
Representative Nancy Mace, R-S.C., called for Andrew to face prosecution on U.S. soil in posts on the social platform X after a closed-door House Oversight Committee meeting with Epstein victims. "Now seems like a good time to discuss prosecuting Prince Andrew for any and all potential crimes on US soil," Mace wrote, and in a subsequent post invoked imagery of handcuffs while urging legal accountability.
Victims’ campaigners have also protested since the FBI said it would not release any further material from its files on Epstein, a development that advocates said limited transparency around the broader investigation.
Sources speaking to Page Six said Andrew would not be offered an official invitation because he is no longer a working royal, and that he is unlikely to travel to the United States again for fear of arrest or prosecution. The palace did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The exclusion marks a contrast with President Trump’s previous state visit in 2019, when the then-president met members of the royal family, and media coverage showed Andrew greeting Trump and participating in meetings. That visit included engagements at the U.S. ambassador’s residence and other formal events.
Royal aides and diplomats have emphasized that Andrew’s status as a private individual removes him from official royal hosting protocols. Well-placed sources told Page Six they did not expect his situation to undermine the broader U.K.-U.S. "special relationship," noting ongoing diplomatic planning around the visit.
Peter Mandelson, Britain’s ambassador to the United States, described President Trump as a "risk taker" in a recent speech at the Ditchley Foundation, remarks cited by Page Six as reflecting an effort to frame the relationship pragmatically despite political sensitivities. The British Foreign Office is reportedly planning further royal participation in U.S. events next year, including invitations for the Prince and Princess of Wales to attend America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
Photographs and archival reporting have documented Andrew’s past social ties with Epstein and Maxwell, including their attendance at events linked to the royal household more than a decade ago. Those images and connections have remained focal points in media coverage of Andrew since criminal charges against some of Epstein’s associates and subsequent civil litigation.
As planning continues for the president’s visit, palace officials and diplomats are balancing ceremonial precedent with concerns about optics and public reaction. The decision to limit the guest list for the state dinner reflects that balance, according to those briefed on arrangements.
Donald Trump will be afforded an unusually prominent second state visit, a departure from recent tradition in which second-term presidents are not typically hosted with a full state visit. Details of the itinerary and full guest lists for each event are expected to be confirmed in the coming days.
Neither Prince Andrew nor representatives for the palace provided an immediate response to requests for comment on the reports.