It was announced Tuesday morning that Prince Andrew has agreed to settle a sexual assault lawsuit from Virginia Giuffre, according to a letter filed from her lawyer David Boies, as reported by Good Morning America.
The total sum of the settlement is not being disclosed, but the letter to the court indicates that Prince Andrew “intends to make a substantial donation to Ms. Giuffre’s charity in support of victims’ rights.”
TW: This article contains descriptions or discussions of sexual abuse.
In a letter filed by Virginia Giuffre’s lawyer, it reads: “Prince Andrew has never intended to malign Ms. Giuffre’s character, and he accepts that she has suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks.”
“It is known that Jeffrey Epstein trafficked countless young girls over many years. Prince Andrew regrets his association with Epstein, and commends the bravery of Ms. Giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others.”
Virginia alleged that Jeffrey Epstein trafficked her to Prince Andrew in the early 2000s.
The woman claims she was sexually abused by the duke when she was just seventeen.
Virginia, now 38-years-old, alleged Prince Andrew assaulted her on three separate occasions.
Once at Ghislaine Maxwell’s home in London, again at Epstein’s mansion in New York, and on Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands, as reported by the BBC .
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Prior to the letter released Tuesday morning, Prince Andrew had repeatedly denied the allegation and attacked Virginia’s credibility and motives.
In a 2019 interview with BBC , Prince Andrew said he had no memory of ever meeting Virginia and said her account of their London meeting and sex at a house in Belgravia “didn’t happen”.
During that same 2019 interview, Prince Andrew attempted to downplay his friendship with Epstein while refusing to admit that he regretted meeting financier.
“The people that I met and the opportunities that I was given to learn, either by him or because of him, were actually very useful,” he said at the time.
In regards to the now-infamous photo of himself and a young Virginia Giuffrein London, he denied the authenticity of the photo because of his attire.
“I don’t believe it’s a picture of me in London because… when I go out in London, I wear a suit and a tie,” he explained.
“That’s what I would describe as… those are my traveling clothes… if I’m going overseas.”
“Nobody can prove whether or not that photograph has been doctored but I don’t recollect that photograph ever being taken.”
He continued on to say he doesn’t think the photo “was taken the way that has been suggested” because it shows the prince’s hand on the young woman’s waist.
“I am not one to, as it were, hug – and public displays of affection are not something that I do.”
The lawyer representing several of Epstein’s accusers, Lisa Bloom, welcomed the duke’s settlement and called it a “victory” for Ms Giuffre.
In a statement on Twitter on behalf of her clients, she wrote: “We hail Virginia’s victory today. She has accomplished what no-one else could: getting Prince Andrew to stop his nonsense and side with sexual abuse victims.”
“We salute Virginia’s stunning courage,” Lisa added.
In December 2021, Jeffrey Epstein’s former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell was found guilty of recruiting underaged girls to him and his wealthy friends.
Virginia and Epstein settled a civil lawsuit for $500,000 back in 2009, which became the basis for Prince Andrew’s argument to have the case dismissed.
This story is still developing.
If you or someone you know is dealing with sexual abuse, please visit the resource link here .
