Question
How did Virginia Giuffre settle her lawsuit against Prince Andrew?
Answer
Virginia Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit against Prince Andrew, Duke of York, in August 2021 in the Southern District of New York, alleging that Epstein and Maxwell had trafficked her to Prince Andrew when she was 17 years old and that he had sexually abused her.
Prince Andrew denied meeting Giuffre, claiming he had no memory of the encounter she described. He had previously given an interview to the BBC in November 2019 that was widely condemned as disastrous — in which he appeared to many observers to be more focused on defending himself than expressing concern for victims, and in which he offered explanations for why Giuffre’s account couldn’t be accurate (including a claim that he couldn’t sweat due to a medical condition) that were widely ridiculed.
In February 2022, Prince Andrew and Giuffre reached a confidential financial settlement. The settlement amount was not publicly disclosed, though reports indicated it was in the millions of dollars. Some reports indicated a figure of approximately £12 million or more. Prince Andrew did not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement.
Following the settlement, Buckingham Palace announced that Prince Andrew would not hold military titles or royal patronages and would not return to public royal duties — effectively confirming the end of his active royal role.
Giuffre’s attorneys called the settlement a victory. Prince Andrew’s team framed it as resolution without admission of liability.
Sources
- Giuffre v. Prince Andrew, SDNY filing and settlement, 2021–2022
- BBC interview with Prince Andrew, November 2019
- Buckingham Palace statement on Andrew’s royal duties, 2022