Virginia Giuffre's brother wants King Charles to 'look me in the face'

The two are connected in an inextricable way by their siblings.

Sky Roberts’ sister is Virginia Roberts Giuffre. She accused the king’s younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former prince, of sexually abusing her at the age of 17 when she was trafficked by the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Giuffre died by suicide a year ago at age 41. Epstein died by suicide in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial.

Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his titles in 2025 and forced out of his royal residence. He settled a civil lawsuit with Roberts Giuffre in 2022, but never admitted to wrongdoing. He wasn't charged with alleged sex crimes, but was arrested this year on suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations he passed confidential documents to Epstein. He now lives on Sandringham Estate, the king’s private estate in Norfolk, England.

Roberts wants the king to meet with him and survivors of sexual abuse during his four-day visit to the United States, slated to begin April 27. His sister was one of the most outspoken survivors against the disgraced prince and Epstein. 

“I want the king to look me in the face, to see my sister in me. I’m her blood. I want him to see Virginia in a different way than just reading it in the news,” Roberts told USA TODAY in an exclusive interview. “This isn’t about the king coming here and partying and celebrating with Trump. This should be about you coming here and taking a stand, to set an example for other world leaders and come forward for survivors.”

While Charles and Camilla are joining dignitaries at a black-tie state dinner at the White House, Roberts will be at his chain hotel preparing talking points to lobby for Virginia’s Law, named after his sister, which would eliminate the statute of limitations that shields sex traffickers such as Epstein.

In various statements released through Buckingham Palace, Charles expressed his "deepest concern" about the events concerning his brother. He said he supports an investigation and it would have his "full and wholehearted support and co-operation." Britain's monarch has stated that the law must apply to everyone. It was not immediately clear if Roberts made a direct request to meet with the king.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement provided to USA Today that it would not be possible during the state visit for a meeting to take place. "We fully understand and appreciate the survivors’ and their advocates' position, but can only reiterate that anything arising from such meeting that could potentially impact on ongoing police inquiries and assessments, and any potential legal action that could result from that, would be to the detriment of the survivors themselves in their pursuit of justice."

The king and queen’s state visit will mark the 250th anniversary of America’s independence, but also is to smooth Great Britain’s relations with Trump.

“I’m not asking them to fly me over there and meet in the palace. The king will be 10 minutes away from the family of Virginia, from me. I just want 10 minutes with him so he can do the right thing,” Roberts says. “King Charles has the opportunity to stand with survivors, to make a change for the next generation.”

Roberts believes the U.S. and U.K. governments failed his late sister. They failed to investigate Mountbatten-Windsor’s role in sex trafficking and abuse of girls. U.S. officials still haven't released the entirety of the Epstein files or held all those responsible accountable.

Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of sex trafficking a minor to Epstein. She was sentenced to 20 years and is now at a minimum-security prison in Texas.

Two days before the royals' arrival, Roberts will participate in a memorial to celebrate his sister's life on Saturday, the first anniversary of her death. The event will also recognize domestic violence awareness and suicide prevention.

Hundreds of women now call themselves the Survivor Sisters and pushed to identify Epstein associates who say they abused or raped them or participated in trafficking.

“There has been such an outpouring of love and support. We wanted it to be a moment for all survivors,” Roberts says. “Virginia started a movement. She did something really special in standing up. She deserves this moment.”

A year ago, Roberts was in Perth, Australia, with his sister.

She wasn’t doing well. Though she had almost finished writing her memoir, “Nobody’s Girl,” which was published posthumously in October, she was struggling.

She and her husband were estranged. Her brother said Roberts Giuffre told him that her husband was abusive. After an argument, her husband obtained a restraining order that prevented her from seeing their three children, ages 19, 16 and 15, until June.

Her older brother, Danny Wilson, came in late March to be with her. Roberts followed in April.

On April 25, she was gone. Roberts found her.

In the days after losing a loved one, it can feel impossible to move under the weight of grief. With suicide, that weight is compounded, often by guilt.

“People don’t understand what happens when you lose someone that way," he says. "You feel this sense of, I couldn’t take that weight from her while she was still here. She protected me for so long. It’s my turn. I want to do this for her.”

Giuffre Roberts’ husband and children held a private service in Australia.

The king’s visit is an opportunity, Roberts says. 

“The royal family has a few options,” he says. “They can have a stain on their family moving forward. Or they can come forward.”