The British Prince Andrew has reached an out-of-court settlement with the plaintiff Virginia Giuffre in the abuse proceedings in New York.
This emerges from a court document published on Tuesday. Giuffre accused the prince of sexually abusing her three times in 2001 when she was just 17, including at the home of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein († 66) and on his private island of Little St. James (US Virgin Islands) .
2001: Prince Andrew with underage Virginia Giuffre (centre, then Roberts) and Epstein’s convicted accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell (right) Photo: AFP PHOTO/UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
The photo of Andrew, Virginia and Epstein’s convicted accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell (60), which went around the world some time ago, served as evidence.
Allegations that Prince Andrew vehemently denied – and now continues to deny. Because: The court’s statement shows that Andrew does NOT admit to ANY of the allegations made by Guiffre!
Epstein’s private island of Little St. James – this is where Andrew is said to have abused the underage Virgina GiuffrePhoto: picture alliance / Capital Pictures
But now the prince has pulled his head out of the noose and averted a statement under oath that was due to take place on March 10.
Instead, the disgraced prince will make an undisclosed payment to the victim. Both parties stated in the letter that the amount was confidential.
The Duke of York will also make a sizeable donation to Virginia Giuffre’s charity “in support of victims’ rights.”
Particularly cynical: In the statement, Andrew emphasizes that it is “known that Jeffrey Epstein has sex-trafficked countless young girls” for many years. Andrew regrets “his association with Epstein” and recognizes “the courage of Ms. Giuffre and other survivors” “who stood up for themselves and others.”
Virgina Giuffre with her attorney David Boies in front of the New York courthouse in 2019Photo: SHANNON STAPLETON/REUTERS
Words that stand in stark contrast to the allegations made by Giuffre and what his lawyers said earlier in the year when Andrew was struggling to drop the lawsuit.
Attorneys at the time claimed that Giuffre had been trying to profit financially from the allegations against Andrew, Epstein and Co. for years. Giuffre sold articles and photos to news agencies.
Attorneys’ arguments at the time in their attempt to avert the lawsuit: “Giuffre brought this baseless lawsuit against Prince Andrew in order to secure another payday at his expense and at the expense of those closest to him.” Receiving the sums of money that Giuffre has secured for itself over the years is something most people can only dream of.”
In Tuesday’s statement, the lawyers then suffered from memory loss. Andrew never intended to “slander Ms. Giuffre’s character and he accepts that she has suffered both as a proven victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks.” Well then …
So does that mean Andrew is rehabilitated? That remains to be seen. The prince, who is considered the favorite son of Queen Elizabeth II (95), has had all military ranks and patronage of royal charities stripped.
The future king Prince Charles (73) reportedly wants nothing more to do with his brother. So the royals have already partially rejected him.
His reputation may have suffered considerable damage worldwide …