International Desk: US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he felt “badly” for the British royal family following King Charles III’s decision to revoke Prince Andrew’s royal title over his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

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Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump described the situation as “a terrible thing that’s happened to the family,” adding that it was “a tragic situation” for the British monarchy. The remarks came amid growing public scrutiny over Prince Andrew’s connections to Epstein, the American financier who died in a US prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

King Charles III formally removed all remaining royal honours from his younger brother last week, including his title of Prince, following years of controversy surrounding Andrew’s ties to Epstein. The British government also announced plans to strip the former royal — now Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor — of his honorary title of vice-admiral, his last military distinction.

Defence Minister John Healey confirmed the decision in an interview with the BBC, stating that the move was taken “guided again by the king.” Andrew had previously lost his other honorary military titles in 2022 when the late Queen Elizabeth II withdrew them after he was sued by Virginia Giuffre, a key accuser in the Epstein case.

Andrew, a former Royal Navy helicopter pilot who served in the 1982 Falklands War, retired from active duty in 2001 after 22 years of service. Once considered one of the most active members of the royal family, his public life has since been overshadowed by allegations of sexual misconduct — claims he has consistently denied.

In her posthumous memoir published in October, Giuffre alleged that she was trafficked by Epstein to have sex with Andrew on multiple occasions, including twice when she was 17 years old. Andrew has repeatedly rejected these allegations, maintaining his innocence throughout the legal proceedings.

Meanwhile, Trump’s own remarks come as he faces renewed attention over his past relationship with Epstein. Although Trump has acknowledged knowing the financier, he has denied any wrongdoing and has dismissed allegations of involvement as politically motivated attacks from his rivals.

In July, the Trump administration announced that no new evidence had been found to warrant reopening investigations into Epstein’s network or releasing additional related documents. Epstein’s death, ruled a suicide by authorities, has nonetheless fueled widespread conspiracy theories among segments of Trump’s political base, many of whom claim that Epstein was murdered to protect influential figures.

The controversy surrounding both Epstein and his associates continues to draw global attention. For the British royal family, the stripping of Andrew’s final titles represents an effort by King Charles III to distance the monarchy from scandal and restore public confidence in the institution.

Trump, who has often expressed admiration for the British royal family, last visited the United Kingdom in September for a state event hosted by King Charles. During that visit, he attended a state dinner at Windsor Castle and was honoured with a military parade and flyover — symbolic gestures underscoring the continued diplomatic ties between Washington and London despite domestic challenges facing both leaders.

As public and political fallout continues in both countries, analysts note that the decisions by King Charles and the UK government mark a significant moment in the monarchy’s ongoing efforts to safeguard its image amid growing demands for accountability and transparency.