The two sides have reached a settlement
Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre have reached an agreement to settle their court case and bring the accusations against the royal to an end.
A statement released on Tuesday states that the prince had “never intended to malign Ms Giuffre’s character” and that he recognised she had “suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks”.
Giuffre had been suing the Duke of York, claiming he sexually assaulted her on three occasions when she was 17. Prince Andrew has repeatedly and vehemently denied these accusations.
The document submitted to the US court stated that the duke would be making a “substantial donation to Ms Giuffre’s charity.”
BREAKING Giuffre v Prince Andrew: case settled pic.twitter.com/m4VDrIPkA2
— Joshua Rozenberg (@JoshuaRozenberg) February 15, 2022
Last month, Judge Kaplan ruled that Giuffre’s lawsuit against Andrew would not be dismissed on the grounds of a previous settlement made between Giuffre and the late Jeffrey Epstein.
In a statement from lawyers of both parties, Andrew admits that he “regrets” links to Epstein and accepts that Giuffre was a victim of abuse.
It reads: “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.”
In a joint statement from lawyers for both parties there is no sign of Prince Andrew admitting guilt or apologising.
However he ‘regrets’ links to Epstein and accepts she was a victim of abuse.
Unclear what the financial settlement is, but expect it is millions of dollars. pic.twitter.com/iAjWViKvHY
— Joe Pike (@joepike) February 15, 2022
The royal has also pledged to demonstrate his regret for his ties with the paedophile by supporting the “fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims.”
Harpers Bazaar royal editor Omid Scobie tweeted that the settlement comes “just weeks before Andrew was scheduled to sit for an intense deposition, in which he would have been questioned under oath by Giuffre’s lawyers.”
There will no doubt be plenty of speculation about both parties over the days ahead. Worth noting that this deal comes just weeks before Andrew was scheduled to sit for an intense deposition, in which he would have been questioned under oath by Giuffre’s lawyers.
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) February 15, 2022
The financial sum of the settlement will not be disclosed.
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