What happened with Prince Andrew and Epstein?

Prince Andrew, Duke of York (born 1960), was a longtime friend of Jeffrey Epstein who became the center of a major royal scandal due to accusations by Virginia Giuffre.

The Friendship: Andrew met Epstein through Ghislaine Maxwell in the early 1990s. They maintained a documented friendship spanning nearly two decades, including multiple visits to Epstein properties even after his 2008 conviction.

Virginia Giuffre’s Allegations: Giuffre alleges that she was trafficked to Prince Andrew by Epstein and Maxwell on three occasions when she was 17 years old — once in London, once in New York, and once at Epstein’s New York mansion. A photograph shows Andrew with his arm around a visibly young Giuffre, with Maxwell in the background.

The BBC Interview (2019): In November 2019, Andrew gave a disastrous BBC Newsnight interview intended to clear his name. He claimed not to remember meeting Giuffre, said a medical condition prevented him from sweating (contradicting the photograph), and showed no empathy for Epstein’s victims. The interview was widely ridiculed.

Step Back: Andrew subsequently stepped back from royal duties.

Civil Lawsuit and Settlement: In August 2021, Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit against Andrew in New York. In February 2022, Andrew settled the case for a reported sum of approximately £12 million, without admitting liability. He was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages.

Current Status: Andrew has not returned to public royal duties and remains largely out of public life.