Britain’s Prince Andrew reaches a settlement with Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual abuse when she was under 18.Ng2

Prince Andrew Reaches Settlement with Virginia Giuffre, Who Accused Him of Sexually Abusing Her as a Minor

Court documents unsealed in New York on February 15 reveal that Prince Andrew, 61, the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, has reached a financial settlement with Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexually abusing her when she was under 18. The prince has also agreed to make a “substantial donation” to a charity supporting victims’ rights.

The exact amount of the settlement has not been disclosed. A joint statement from Prince Andrew and Giuffre notes that the prince does not admit to any of the allegations made against him.

Court filings further indicate that Andrew expressed regret over his association with the late American financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial.

“Prince Andrew never intended to malign Ms. Giuffre’s character,” the statement reads, adding that he “commends her bravery in standing up for herself and others.”

The settlement comes just weeks before the prince was expected to give a formal deposition and face questioning from Giuffre’s lawyers.

Earlier this year, Buckingham Palace announced that Prince Andrew had been stripped of his military titles and royal patronages amid the lawsuit. He was also barred from using the style “His Royal Highness,” and his official duties have been redistributed among other members of the royal family.

Queen Elizabeth was reported to have contributed several million dollars toward her son’s legal fees. Prince Andrew assembled a high-profile legal team in the U.S., including Princeton graduate Melissa Lerner and prominent entertainment lawyer Andrew Brettler.