Prince Andrew news – Royal ‘can’t ignore court’ over Virginia Giuffre rape claims as Eugenie arrives at Balmoral
PRINCE Andrew can no longer "hide behind wealth" and will face court over the rape claims against him, it has been claimed.
In a new lawsuit, Jeffrey Epstein accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre says she was “forced to have sexual intercourse with Prince Andrew against her will” and lists offences including “rape in the first degree”.
Now her lawyer David Boies has that Ms Giuffre intends to send a message that the alleged behaviour "is not acceptable and that you cannot hide behind wealth and power and palace walls".
He added that "at this point litigation is the only way to establish once and for all what the truth is - and litigation is the only way to establish once and for all what Prince Andrew's evidence actually is".
Andrew fiercely denies any allegations, says he has no memory of even meeting Roberts, and has said he had no suspicions of Epstein's wrongdoing during their friendship.
Read our Prince Andrew live blog below for the latest updates
‘AFFLUENT LIFESTYLE’
Legal experts have suggested that Andrew could be sued for tens of millions if Ms Giuffre wins her civil case in the US.
She has accused the royal of “rape in the first degree”, and has not put a figure on the amount of compensation that she is seeking for the “significant” emotional and psychological stress.
David Boies, her lawyer, told : “Both categories of damages will be substantial. [A person’s declared wealth] does come into consideration with respect to punitive damages.”
A royal finance expert explained that Prince Andrew’s wealth has been a mystery, that could cause US authorities an issue when trying to come to an agreement.
David McClure, author of The Queen’s True Worth, said: “Prince Andrew’s finances are shrouded in a pea soup of impenetrability. This is symbolised by the fact that no one knows how he was able to get a mortgage for some £13 million to buy a luxury ski chalet in Verbier in 2014. He has an affluent lifestyle, but where does the money come from? He has no discernible income.”
WHEN DID PRINCE ANDREW STEP BACK FROM CHARITY PATRONAGES?
The Duke of York stepped back from all of his 230 charity patronages in 2019, with Buckingham Palace indicating that he hoped to return to his public roles at some point.
Following the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral, it was claimed that Andrew was as recently as February this year.
In May this year it was reported that almost 50 organisations had quietly or publicly removed Andrew as patron.
But Buckingham Palace still lists dozens of organizations that he is supposedly the patron for.
The shock comments from his brother come after reports that Andrew may also lose his HRH titles over the lawsuit.
‘LIMITED CONTROL’
Charles and Prince William are also both reportedly concerned about how the case is being handled by Andrew’s legal team.
They are said to share growing frustration at the tactics of silence from the Duke since the lawsuit was filed in New York on Monday.
A royal insider told the “The family find themselves in an extraordinarily difficult and sensitive situation given the nature of the allegations.
“They are limited in what they can say publicly and now that the Duke of York is no longer a working royal they are actually rather limited in what control they can exert over the situation privately.”
VIRGINIA GIUFFRE’S LAWYERS CLAIM THEY HAVE MADE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT PRINCE ANDREW
Buckingham Palace “emphatically” denied the claims, as has Maxwell, stating that the allegations were “false.”
Since denying the allegations Ms Giuffre’s lawyers claim that they have made multiple attempts to contact the Duke and his legal team but have been ignored.
Mr Boies added: “Since 2015, we’ve been trying to have a dialog with Prince Andrew or his lawyers. We have given him every opportunity to provide any explanation or context that he might have.
“We’ve tried to reach a resolution without the necessity of litigation. Prince Andrew and his lawyers have been totally non-responsive. If she had simply failed to sue now, it would have validated the stonewalling tactics that Andrew and his advisers have employed.”
According to her lawyer the latest letter sent to Prince Andrew was sent last month, and warned that a lawsuit could be filed.
CRESSIDA DICK SAYS MET ‘WILL HAVE ANOTHER LOOK AT MATERIAL’
Speaking on LBC, Dame Cressida told Nick Ferrari: “No one is above the law.
“It’s been reviewed twice before, we’ve worked closely with the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service), we are of course open to working with authorities overseas, we will give them every assistance if they ask us for anything within the law obviously.
“As a result of whats going on I’ve asked my team to have another look at the material.”
PRINCE ANDREW’S SEX ABUSE LAWSUIT SCANDAL IS SEEN AS ‘UNSOLVABLE PROBLEM’ BY ROYALS, SAYS SOURCE
PRINCE Andrew's sex abuse lawsuit scandal is seen as an "unsolvable problem" by the Royal Family, a source has said.
The Duke of York, 61, is said to be having crisis talks with lawyers by phone after joining the Queen at Balmoral supported by daughter Eugenie.
The Prince of Wales, 72, is said to be “furious” with his brother as he attempts to protect the monarchy from another scandal - but the issue is an "unsolvable" one.
A source close to Charles told : “The prince loves his brother and has the ability to have sympathy for the slings and arrows that his brother endures, whatever the reasons may be. His ability to support and feel for those having a tough time is well known.
“However, this will be unwelcome reputational damage to the institution. He has long ago concluded that it is probably an unsolvable problem. This will probably further strengthen in the prince’s mind that a way back for the duke is demonstrably not possible, because the spectre of this accusation raises its head with hideous regularity.”
WHY DID PRINCE ANDREW STEP BACK FROM ROYAL LIFE?
In an infamous Newsnight interview with the BBC’s Emily Maitlis in November 2019, Andrew denied claims that he slept with Ms Giuffre and said he had “no recollection” of ever meeting her.
He also said he has no memory of the well-known photograph of him with his arm around Ms Giuffre’s waist at Maxwell’s house, and has questioned whether it was his own hand in the image.
The fallout from the interview saw the royal criticised for showing a lack of empathy towards Epstein’s victims and a lack of remorse over his friendship with disgraced financier.
Andrew quit his royal duties and publicly promised to co-operate with US authorities investigating Epstein’s crimes, though has since faced a war of words between his camp and American authorities over his availability to answer questions.
ANDREW SHOCK
Prince Andrew had dinner with the Queen on Monday night — as a bombshell lawsuit accused him of “rape in the first degree”.
The Duke of York, 61, left for Balmoral with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson hours before a US summons was sent to his Windsor home.
A Balmoral source said of Her Majesty, faced with the fallout from Megxit and whose husband Philip died in April: “The Queen could do without this after the year she has had.
“Summer at Balmoral is a special time when the family come together, take stock, relax and recharge their batteries.
“But the first thing she is having to deal with is her 61-year-old son turning up on her doorstep with his ex-wife, hours after learning he is being sued for allegedly abusing a 17-year-old girl.
“It’s not the start to her first trip to Balmoral without the Duke of Edinburgh she would be expecting or deserves.”
EXPLAINED: WHAT ARE THE ALLEGATIONS MADE BY VIRGINIA GUIFFRYE AGAINST PRINCE ANDREW?
The full list of allegations are:
- Battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
- Sexual assault three times when she was aged 17 – in London, New York and on Epstein’s private Caribbean island.
- Sexual misconduct
- Rape in the third degree
- Rape in the first degree
- Forcible touching
- Sexual abuse in the third degree
- Sexual abuse in the first degree
VIRGINIA GUIFFRYE LAWERS 'STONEWALLED' BY DUKE AND HIS LEGAL TEAM
Since denying the allegations Ms Giuffre’s lawyers claim that they have made multiple attempts to contact the Duke and his legal team but have been ignored.
According to her lawyer the latest letter sent to Prince Andrew was sent last month, and warned that a lawsuit could be filed. In a infamous Newsnight interview with the BBC’s Emily Maitlis in November 2019, Andrew denied claims that he slept with Ms Giuffre and said he had “no recollection” of ever meeting her.
He also said he has no memory of the well-known photograph of him with his arm around Ms Giuffre’s waist at Maxwell’s house, and has questioned whether it was his own hand in the image.
The fallout from the interview saw the royal criticised for showing a lack of empathy towards Epstein’s victims and a lack of remorse over his friendship with disgraced financier.
Andrew quit his royal duties and publicly promised to co-operate with US authorities investigating Epstein’s crimes, though has since faced a war of words between his camp and American authorities over his availability to answer questions.
EXPLAINED: WHERE IS PRINCE ANDREW NOW?
The Duke is currently hunkered down at Balmoral Castle for the summer along with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and his mum, The Queen.
Fergie’s presence is expected to sooth things as well as she makes her first visit to Balmoral in 25 years, with the Duchess being 100 per cent behind Andrew.
The monarch and her son had dinner together last night just hours after he was served US summons.
Andrew faces civil litigation with the 15-page suit for the first time after he allegedly abused Ms Giuffre when she was 17 at Ghislaine Maxwell’s house in London.
Maxwell and Epstein are alleged to have run a global sex trafficking ring of young and underage girls who they lured in using their wealth and power before offering them to their pals.
PRINCE ANDREW DASHES TO BALMORAL TO SEE QUEEN HOURS BEFORE BOMBSHELL LAWSUIT ACCUSES HIM OF ‘RAPE IN FIRST DEGREE’
The Duke of York, 61, left for Balmoral with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson hours before a US summons was sent to his Windsor home.
His accuser ’s lawyer last night warned a criminal probe could be opened into the royal’s alleged abuse of the then-17-year-old. David Boies, speaking exclusively to The Sun, said prosecutors began investigating Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell after civil claims against them.
Ms Giuffre’s lawsuit says she was “forced to have sexual intercourse with Prince Andrew against her will” and lists offences including “rape in the first degree”.
A Balmoral source said of Her Majesty, faced with the fallout from Megxit and whose husband Philip died in April: “The Queen could do without this after the year she has had.
“Summer at Balmoral is a special time when the family come together, take stock, relax and recharge their batteries.
“But the first thing she is having to deal with is her 61-year-old son turning up on her doorstep with his ex-wife, hours after learning he is being sued for allegedly abusing a 17-year-old girl.”
VIRGINA GIUFFRE’S LAWSUIT
In June, the New York State Senate passed the Adult Survivors Act, which relates to survivors of sex crimes who were 18 or older when abused.
If signed into law it will ensure those who stayed silent are able use civil courts to seek justice.
Victims whose cases were previously too old to prosecute will have a year from the time law comes into force to bring any legal actions.
Unsealed documents at the time revealed Andrew allegedly touched Johanna, then aged 21, when they posed for a picture. In her testimony in 2016, she said Andrew and Virginia Giuffre – then Roberts – were sat on a couch with a Spitting Image puppet on her lap.
She added: “And so then I sat on Andrew’s lap – and I believe on my own volition – and they took the puppet’s hands and put it on Virginia’s breast, and so Andrew put his on mine.”
‘AFFLUENT LIFESTYLE’
Legal experts have suggested that Andrew could be sued for tens of millions if Ms Giuffre wins her civil case in the US.
She has accused the royal of “rape in the first degree”, and has not put a figure on the amount of compensation that she is seeking for the “significant” emotional and psychological stress.
David Boies, her lawyer, told : “Both categories of damages will be substantial. [A person’s declared wealth] does come into consideration with respect to punitive damages.”
A royal finance expert explained that Prince Andrew’s wealth has been a mystery, that could cause US authorities an issue when trying to come to an agreement.
David McClure, author of The Queen’s True Worth, said: “Prince Andrew’s finances are shrouded in a pea soup of impenetrability. This is symbolised by the fact that no one knows how he was able to get a mortgage for some £13 million to buy a luxury ski chalet in Verbier in 2014. He has an affluent lifestyle, but where does the money come from? He has no discernible income.”
EXPLAINED: HOW IS PRINCE ANDREW LINKED TO JEFFREY EPSTEIN?
The Duke of York said he first met Jeffrey Epstein, a billionaire financier, in 1999 with the now dead banker once describing him as his “best friend.”
That was also the year the UK press reported on the pair’s friendship.
The pair are thought to have flown together on Epstein’s private jet to the US Virgin Islands.
And in June 2000, Epstein and his Brit “madam” ex, Maxwell were both guests at a party hosted by the Queen at Windsor Castle.
Prince Andrew also became close with Maxwell – pictured together that same year at a Halloween party hosted by Heidi Klum in New York.
Just over a month later, in December 2000, the then 40-year-old prince, threw Ms Maxwell a surprise birthday party at Sandringham, with Epstein among the guests.
CRESSIDA DICK SAYS MET ‘WILL HAVE ANOTHER LOOK AT MATERIAL’
Speaking on LBC, Dame Cressida told Nick Ferrari: “No one is above the law.
“It’s been reviewed twice before, we’ve worked closely with the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service), we are of course open to working with authorities overseas, we will give them every assistance if they ask us for anything within the law obviously.
“As a result of whats going on I’ve asked my team to have another look at the material.”
FERGIE’S BACK
Fergie was set for her first Balmoral summer break after more than 25 YEARS after arriving at the Queen’s home with Prince Andrew yesterday.
The Duchess of York was BANNED by Prince Philip after her bitter split and divorce in the 1990s.
Fergie, 62, who lives with Andy, 61, at Royal Lodge in Windsor, was usually kicked out of Balmoral when Philip arrived for the annual summer trip.
But the Duke of Edinburgh died aged 99-years-old in April and this summer will be the first time the entire royal clan has met since his funeral.
Philip had always refused to be under the same roof as Fergie since her divorce from Prince Andrew in 1996.
Insiders say he blamed her for publicly humiliating the Queen and the Royal Family over the years.
GRAPHIC: THE ALLEGATIONS MADE AGAINST PRINCE ANDREW
PRINCE OF WALES SAID TO BE FURIOUS WITH BROTHER ANDREW
The Prince of Wales, 72, is said to be “furious” with his brother as he attempts to protect the monarchy from another scandal.
A source close to Charles told The Times: “The prince loves his brother and has the ability to have sympathy for the slings and arrows that his brother endures, whatever the reasons may be.
"His ability to support and feel for those having a tough time is well known.
“However, this will be unwelcome reputational damage to the institution. He has long ago concluded that it is probably an unsolvable problem.
“This will probably further strengthen in the prince’s mind that a way back for the duke is demonstrably not possible, because the spectre of this accusation raises its head with hideous regularity.”
WHEN DID PRINCE ANDREW STEP BACK FROM CHARITY PATRONAGES?
The Duke of York stepped back from all of his 230 charity patronages in 2019, with Buckingham Palace indicating that he hoped to return to his public roles at some point.
Following the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral, it was claimed that Andrew was as recently as February this year.
In May this year it was reported that almost 50 organisations had quietly or publicly removed Andrew as patron.
But Buckingham Palace still lists dozens of organizations that he is supposedly the patron for.
The shock comments from his brother come after reports that Andrew may also lose his HRH titles over the lawsuit.
EXPLAINED: WHAT HAS JOHANNA SJOBERG SAID ABOUT PRINCE ANDREW?
Johanna Sjoberg alleges Prince Andrew touched her breast in 2001 at the New York home of his pal Jeffrey Epstein, according to court papers.
In the documents Sjoberg said: “I just remember someone suggesting a photo, and they told us to go get on the couch. And so Andrew and Virginia Giuffre (formerly Roberts) sat on the couch, and they put the puppet, the puppet on her lap.
“And so then I sat on Andrew’s lap, and I believe on my own volition, and they took the puppet’s hands and put it on Virginia’s breast, and so Andrew put his on mine,” she said, saying it was done in a “joking manner”.
EXPLAINED: WHERE IS PRINCE ANDREW NOW?
The Duke is currently hunkered down at Balmoral Castle for the summer along with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and his mum, The Queen.
Fergie's presence is expected to sooth things as well as she makes her first visit to Balmoral in 25 years, with the Duchess being 100 per cent behind Andrew.
The monarch and her son had dinner together last night just hours after he was served US summons.
Andrew faces civil litigation with the 15-page suit for the first time after he allegedly abused Ms Giuffre when she was 17 at Ghislaine Maxwell's house in London.
Maxwell and Epstein are alleged to have run a global sex trafficking ring of young and underage girls who they lured in using their wealth and power before offering them to their pals.
MILLIONS IN DAMAGES
The Duke and Duchess of York are both being sued by the previous owned of their luxury Swiss ski chalet, Isabelle de Rouvre, who claims they owe her £6.7million.
The couple have put the property on the market for £17.3million after buying it for about £18 million in 2014. David Rowland, the financier said to co-own an offshore fund in the British Virgin Islands tax haven with the Duke, reportedly paid £40,000 to help clear the Duchess of York’s debts in 2010.
Prince Andrew could be forced to fork out up to £14-72million in damages, according to a top London lawyer who has represented victims of sexual harassment related to #MeToo movement.
Mark Stephens, of the London law firm Howard Kennedy, said: “It could, on appeal, be lowered to something like $30-$50 million (£21-36 million), but in the first instance, it would be a very big number indeed.
“Andrew could, of course, ignore the proceedings altogether and the judgment would be a default one. The US cannot compel him to pay the damages. The UK only recognises judgments in foreign hearings if they are contested. The only thing the US court could do in this instance is to execute the decision against his assets in the US, should he have any.
“I think this is likely how it will play out, unless the Queen or the UK Government decides to intercede. He is able to shelter behind the palace walls.”
'AFFLUENT LIFESTYLE'
Legal experts have suggested that Andrew could be sued for tens of millions if Ms Giuffre wins her civil case in the US.
She has accused the royal of “rape in the first degree”, and has not put a figure on the amount of compensation that she is seeking for the “significant” emotional and psychological stress.
David Boies, her lawyer, told : “Both categories of damages will be substantial. [A person’s declared wealth] does come into consideration with respect to punitive damages.”
A royal finance expert explained that Prince Andrew’s wealth has been a mystery, that could cause US authorities an issue when trying to come to an agreement.
David McClure, author of The Queen’s True Worth, said: “Prince Andrew’s finances are shrouded in a pea soup of impenetrability. This is symbolised by the fact that no one knows how he was able to get a mortgage for some £13 million to buy a luxury ski chalet in Verbier in 2014. He has an affluent lifestyle, but where does the money come from? He has no discernible income.”
WHEN DID PRINCE ANDREW STEP BACK FROM CHARITY PATRONAGES?
The Duke of York stepped back from all of his 230 charity patronages in 2019, with Buckingham Palace indicating that he hoped to return to his public roles at some point.
Following the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral, it was claimed that Andrew was as recently as February this year.
In May this year it was reported that almost 50 organisations had quietly or publicly removed Andrew as patron.
But Buckingham Palace still lists dozens of organizations that he is supposedly the patron for.
The shock comments from his brother come after reports that Andrew may also lose his HRH titles over the lawsuit.