Queen Elizabeth’s second son II recognizes that Virginia Giuffre, who sued him in American justice, was the victim of abuse, and he will pay to avoid a civil lawsuit in New York.
It is “a remarkable regarding-face for Andrew, who had promised to fight to clear his name in court”, observe The Guardian. The prince has reached an out-of-court settlement with US plaintiff Virginia Giuffre, who accuses him of several sexual assaults in 2001. “He always denied having sex with Giuffre when she was 17 year”, recalls the British newspaper.
In a document submitted to justice on February 15, the second son of the Queen of England “acknowledges that she has suffered as a proven victim of abuse and as a result of unjust public attacks”. He also regrets his links with the American financier Jeffrey Epstein, who committed suicide in prison while accused of sex trafficking. Virginia Giuffre says she was “recruited” by Epstein and his mistress Ghislaine Maxwell – a relative of Andrew’s who was convicted of sex trafficking in December – and claims in her complaint that she was forced to have sex with Andrew in three different places, remember The Washington Post.
To show his regrets, the prince agrees to do “a substantial donation” to Virginia Giuffre’s association defending the rights of victims.
The royal family relieved or splashed?
The Guardian emphasizes that this amicable settlement, the financial terms of which have not been disclosed, “will be a relief for the Queen, who would have helped pay her son’s legal costs. The Royal Family feared a trial might overshadow the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations this year.
Andrew’s name, however, risks being “forever tainted by this scandal”, points out Joe Little, editor-in-chief of the magazine Majesty, Quoted by The Daily Telegraph.
