King Charles will not meet Epstein survivors on US visit — BBC News

[0:00] The King and Queen will not meet survivors of the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on their state visit to the U.S. later this month. [0:07] The trip comes at a difficult time for U.K. and U.S. relations, which have been strained by the Iran war. [0:13] Our Royal Correspondent Johnny Diamond reports. [0:17] This is far from the King and Queen's first visit to the U.S., but they've never been at such a sensitive time, [0:25] such a difficult time in the two nations' relationship. [0:29] For a century, conflict has bound Britain and the U.S. together, but no more. [0:36] America's war on Iran is not supported by Britain. [0:40] As it began, the government denied the U.S. use of airbases here. [0:46] That reluctance to join the American war has brought anger and ridicule from President Trump. [0:54] Actually, that's U.K., who should be our best. [0:57] In fact, the King is coming over here in two weeks. He's a nice guy. [1:00] King Charles. [1:02] But it should be our best, right, Brooke? [1:04] But they weren't our best. [1:06] I said, you have two old, broken-down aircraft carriers. [1:09] You think you could send them over? [1:11] Oh, I'll have to ask my team. [1:14] I said, you're the prime minister. [1:15] You don't have... [1:16] No, no, no. [1:17] I have to ask my team, President. [1:19] It makes this, the president's second state visit to the U.K., seem like ancient history. [1:28] But history, shared history, is what the return visit is about, marking 250 years since the [1:36] U.S. declared independence from Britain, and 250 years of friendship and mutual sacrifice. [1:44] A relationship the palace and the government believes rises above the challenges of the [1:50] past few weeks. [1:51] After the formality of Washington, will be time spent in New York, and then Virginia. [1:58] There have been calls from some for the King and Queen to meet victims of the sexual predator, [2:03] Jeffrey Epstein, the friend, for so long, of the King's brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. [2:09] No such meetings are planned. [2:11] Just like the last time, this time will be about the mood, about reminding the two countries [2:18] and the world of the length and strength of this relationship, no matter what current [2:24] times might bring. [2:26] Johnny Diamond, BBC News. [2:29] Harry and Meghan are continuing their trip to Australia, visiting indigenous veterans. [2:33] The Duke of Sussex took part in a ceremony at the Four Our Country Memorial. [2:37] It recognises the military service of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their [2:43] legacy. [2:44] Prince Harry also met players from the Australian Rules football team in the Western Bulldogs [2:49] and was given a quick lesson. [2:51] During his speech, he talked about mental health and admitted he had stuff from the past he needed [2:56] to deal with before having his own children. [3:00] Harry and Meghan are no longer working royals and are visiting Australia in a private capacity. [3:05] Our correspondent, Simon Atkinson, is in Melbourne following developments. [3:11] I mean, the only time they've really had any kind of interaction with large numbers of [3:15] people was what we saw yesterday when they arrived at the Children's Hospital here in Melbourne. [3:19] And it wasn't like whoops of delight, but it was certainly a very warm welcome. [3:22] You know, lots of handshakes and smiles and posing for selfies. [3:25] And today at the football club where we saw him earlier, everyone that I spoke to only really [3:31] had, you know, good things to say about him. [3:33] There has been a lot of talk on this trip about it being a kind of a cover almost for commercial [3:38] ventures. [3:39] We do know that there is some some activities which the couple are making money from. [3:45] But, you know, sources from close to the Sussex are saying, you know, this really is very [3:49] unfair criticism. [3:50] The vast majority of what they're doing on this trip is linked to their charitable causes [3:54] and interests that they hold close to their hearts. [3:57] Issues like veterans affairs and mental health. [4:01] Mental health is something that Prince Harry's talked about before. [4:05] How's that been received? [4:06] It has. [4:10] I mean, I was in the room this morning when he was speaking about the importance of mental [4:14] health for young fathers. [4:16] He spoke quite frankly about some of the challenges that he had, including after the birth of his [4:21] first child and how he said how Prince Archie picked up on his own kind of anxiety at times. [4:28] This was launching a report by the organization Movember, which champions men's mental health. [4:34] The chief research officer there told me that, you know, his having Harry's kind of supporting [4:39] their message that men really should reach out for help if they feel they need it after [4:44] they've had a child, you know, really was very important. [4:47] What's next on their agenda? [4:51] Well, as you say, the Duke's in Canberra. [4:53] He's got another engagement this evening. [4:55] That's to do with the Invictus Games, the sporting event for veterans, which he founded [4:59] in 2014. [5:01] Then he's back to Melbourne, where tomorrow both he and the Duchess do have engagements. [5:07] We haven't seen the Duchess at all today. [5:08] She doesn't have any public engagements. [5:10] Like you say, they're here as private citizens. [5:12] They don't have to account for every minute of their day. [5:15] We have asked their spokesperson what she's up to. [5:18] We haven't had any information. [5:20] I guess that's fair enough. [5:21] But we know that they do have things tomorrow. [5:24] The Duke is giving a keynote speech at a mental health summit here in Melbourne, and the Duchess [5:29] is also attending some events with him in the morning. [5:32] Simon Atkinson in Melbourne.