Prince William’s Earthshot Prize Dragged Into Jeffrey Epstein Scandal: ‘Beyond Distressing’ (Exclusive)

Prince William “hit the roof” after Earthshot Prize donor Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem was accused of having ties to Jeffrey Epstein, a source tells In Touch.

In 2009, the convicted sex offender, 66, allegedly sent an email to the CEO of DP World, who is one of the charity’s founding partners, that read: “Where are you? are you ok , I loved the torture video.”

“To have his beloved charity being mentioned in the same breath as Epstein is sickening,” says the source. “There’s no suggestion of wrongdoing on [William’s] part, but the optics are brutal.”

It could not come at a worse time for the British monarchy.

On Thursday, February 19, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office amid accusations of sharing confidential government information with Epstein while working as a British trade envoy.

“Andrew’s mess refuses to die down and every new revelation just drags the whole institution back into the mud,” sighs the source. “It feels like every day something else drops and there seems to be no end in sight.”

As In Touch previously reported, William, 43, will undoubtedly be cleaning up his uncle’s mess for years to come.

“For this to be happening right as he’s being prepared to take over the throne is beyond distressing,” says the source. “He already feels like it’s on his shoulders to steady the ship and restore public faith and now Earthshot, the one thing he built to represent hope and progress, is being pulled into the muck.”

The scandal surrounding Andrew, 66 — who has long denied any wrongdoing — has taken a “very evident” toll on William, adds the source. “He’s snappy, he’s short-tempered, and he’s exhausted because he’s not sleeping properly.”

Wife Princess Kate is “trying to keep him calm,” says the source. “But privately, there’s a fear that this won’t fade quickly and could cast a long shadow over their reign.”