The King has been heckled by a protester during a royal outing as scrutiny intensifies over his brother Prince Andrew’s links to Jeffrey Epstein.

The monarch was greeting royal fans during a visit to Lichfield Cathedral in Britain on Monday (local time).

“How long have you known about Andrew and Epstein?,” a man could be heard shouting as the King met people at the church near Birmingham in north-west England.

“Have you asked the police to cover up for Andrew? … Should the MPs be allowed to debate the royals in the House of Commons?”

The King appeared to take no notice of the questions, and carried on meeting other people in the crowd.

The latest development comes amid reports that Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson have agreed to leave their Royal Lodge home in exchange for two separate residences.

The King’s younger brother is said to be in talks with the monarch’s representatives about leaving Royal Lodge voluntarily following recent furore over the “peppercorn” rent he pays for the 30-room mansion, where he has lived for more than 20 years.

An anonymous source told The Sun newspaper that Andrew has requested the former home of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Frogmore Cottage. Ferguson may relocate to Adelaide Cottage after it is vacated by the Prince and Princess of Wales next month.

Prince William, Kate and their children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis — will move to Forest Lodge, an eight-bedroom Grade II-listed residence in Windsor Great Park by early November.

“No one is really sure how it’s going to go down at the palace yet. Andy is willing to leave but these are his demands,” a friend of Andrew and Ferguson reportedly told The Sun.

“He is realistic and knows the writing is on the wall and that his time at Royal Lodge is up. If he must go, then he has asked for Frogmore Cottage.

“Incredibly Sarah has said she wants Adelaide Cottage.

“Sarah and Andy have lived together at Royal Lodge since 2008, despite being divorced, and seen like they are still a married couple.

“It’s incredible that they are willing to go their own separate ways. But it indicates that they have been under immense strain this year and need a break from one another. It’s a fresh start for both.”

The source also told The Sun the pair have set their eyes on two properties instead of one because Frogmore Cottage would be “too small” for them to share.

“Frogmore Cottage is too small for both and Adelaide Cottage is around the corner so they will see each other whenever they want,” the source told the newspaper.

“Both have space for their daughters Eugenie and Beatrice and their families to visit.”

The King has long been said to have tried to encourage his younger brother, who lives in Royal Lodge with Ferguson, to move out.

He reportedly first offered Frogmore Cottage to Prince Andrew in January 2023 after Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle moved out. The former duke turned it down.

Friends of the pair also reportedly stated Ferguson “feels like she deserves a royal home to see out her years”, The Sun said.

Andrew has attempted to draw a line under years of controversy, following allegations he sexually abused Virginia Giuffre, by giving up his dukedom and other honours ahead of last week’s publication of Giuffre’s posthumous memoirs.

But the prince, who strenuously denies the allegations, was instead swamped by criticism that has focused on the property he has lived in effectively rent-free since 2003.

Obstacles to reaching a settlement are reportedly where Andrew, eighth in line to the throne, will live and what financial recompense he will receive for the money he spent renovating the home.

The British government has so far refused to allocate time in the House of Commons for MPs to discuss Andrew’s situation because the royal family wants parliament to focus on “important issues”.

But the matter could be raised on a day when ministers are not in control of the parliamentary timetable.

-with AAP and Reuters