By Isabella Torregiani
11:54am PST, Mar 6, 2026
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With
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor under scrutiny for his ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein, some royal analysts say
King Charles III should "start with a clean slate" and step aside for
Prince William and
Kate Middleton to lead the monarchy.
Keep reading to see what experts say the king should do next… MORE:
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During an appearance on TalkTV with Jeremy Kyle, royal biographer Andrew Lownie dished on the investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and the aftermath of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
According to Kyle, the survival of the monarchy could depend on King Charles III stepping down. "I think it's so bad the king might have to stand aside," he said. "I genuinely have a way out for him … say that his medical situation is the reason he is doing that."
"We all know it's for the good of the royal family and we start with a clean slate with [Prince] William and Kate [Middleton]," he continued.
The royal biographer agreed, adding, "Yes, a number of people have suggested that. I suggested that myself. I think it may be the only way to clean out the stables and start afresh."
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Andrew Lownie claimed that King Charles III "is compromised by his association with Andrew [Mountbatten-Windsor]." He suggested the king was slow to respond when allegations about his younger brother first came to light.
Jeremy Kyle added that even after years of waiting to take the throne, Charles could see the monarchy's future at risk because of the latest scandal.
"We have got to that 'last chance saloon,'" Lownie said. "In some ways, his legacy will be defined by the way he deals with this."
"Maybe, the best thing he can do is fall on his sword to ensure the continuation of the monarchy," he added.
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As talks continue about the monarchy's future, surveys show a drop in support among younger generations.
The Channel 5 program Andrew Crisis: How Can The Royals Recover? reported that 79% of Brits age 18 to 24 believe Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's actions have damaged confidence in the royal family.
Among all respondents, 62% said the scandal has undermined trust in the monarchy, while half reported that it has negatively affected their overall opinion of the Crown.
Although 55% felt King Charles III handled the allegations about his brother well, 51% said he should have acted sooner.
