A summary of today's developments
- The Duke of York has settled the sex assault case filed against him by Virginia Giuffre for an undisclosed sum. The out-of-court settlement in the US civil case means Prince Andrew makes no admission of guilt over claims by Giuffre that he sexually assaulted her on three occasions when she was 17, allegations he has repeatedly denied.
- Lawyers for Andrew, 61, and Giuffre, 38, said the two had reached a “settlement in principle”.
- Andrew will make a “substantial donation” to Giuffre’s charity in support of victims’ rights. International lawyers told the Guardian that the cost to Andrew was likely to be more than $10m (£7m) even before paying his own legal bill that is expected to run into millions.
- Andrew also pledged to “demonstrate his regret for his association” with the sex offender financier Jeffrey Epstein, by supporting the “fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims”. He commended the “bravery of Giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others”.
- The settlement was announced weeks before tbe duke was due to give a sworn deposition to Giuffre’s lawyers. It means there will be no civil trial, and he will not have to give evidence under oath or in front of a jury.
- The Duke of York must withdraw his title to show “respect” for people living in York, according to an MP for the city. Labour’s Rachael Maskell, who represents York Central, welcomed Andrew’s pledge to donate money to Giuffre’s charity but said his relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein has caused “deep hurt and embarrassment” to York residents, PA reports.
Updated
Lady Victoria Hervey, who socialised with the Duke of York in the early 2000s, issued a message of support for Andrew.
She told the PA news agency: “I think Virginia’s team realised there was no substantial evidence in these accusations once the supposed original photo didn’t exist.
“The storyline was crumbling. I’m not surprised at all they wanted to settle fast.
“I hope the royal family can now focus on the upcoming jubilee celebrations and Prince Andrew can put these false allegations behind him.”
Media lawyer Mark Stephens speculated that the total costs of legal fees, Andrew’s settlement and the charitable donation could be somewhere around $10m.
He told PA: “Multimillion dollar awards are not uncommon in MeToo kind of cases.”
Stephens added: “Essentially the question is what is his net worth? What I’m doing is putting together the fact that he sold, at an undervalue, because he had to do it quickly, his chalet, we know that he netted about $10m from it, maybe a little more.”
Updated
The amount paid to the Duke of York’s accuser to settle the civil sex assault claim against him should be made public and so should the source of the funds, a royal finances expert said.
No details have been disclosed with regard to the settlement made to Virginia Giuffre or the costs.
Last month, Buckingham Palace announced that the duke would be defending the case “as a private citizen”, but a number of commentators have claimed that would not stop him having been helped along with money from the Queen’s private wealth.
David McClure, author of Royal Privilege: The Queen’s True Worth, said a settlement could be “in the order of several million dollars”.
He told the PA news agency: “That raises the question: ‘does he have the money?”’
There had been reports Andrew had been trying to sell a chalet in the Swiss resort of Verbier which he bought for a reported £13 million in 2014 with his ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York.
McClure added: “The very fact he had to sell, it does show he had some money but he didn’t have lots of money.
“So where does the money come from? I think more than likely the Queen.”
He said if money did come from the Queen it “more than likely would have come from the Duchy of Lancaster, which is described as the Queen’s private estate”.
Updated
The Duke of York is likely to want to appear alongside the royal family at the Duke of Edinburgh’s memorial service next month, PA reports.
Andrew will undoubtedly be keen to pay his respects to his late father Philip in Westminster Abbey on 29 March.
He settled his civil sexual assault case with no admission of guilt.
But the duke’s appearance is anything but certain, and has the potential to massively overshadow the high profile occasion honouring Philip’s achievements and life of duty.
Much is likely to depend on whether the Queen considers the thanksgiving church service a family event or an official engagement, and how much she and royal aides fear Andrew’s presence would detract from the proceedings.
The views of future king the Prince of Wales and second in line the Duke of Cambridge are also likely to be taken into account.
Former BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt tweeted: “Outright vindication - deliverable at a trial - has been denied.
“The claims of sexual assault Andrew denies hang in the ether. He’ll be keen to attend his father’s memorial service.
“He’ll want redemption and a role. Charles and William want Andrew to remain as a non royal royal.”
Updated
The Duke of York must withdraw his title to show “respect” for people living in York, according to an MP for the city.
Labour’s Rachael Maskell, who represents York Central, has said Andrew must remove his association with the city in light of the settlement in his civil sex case brought by Virginia Giuffre.
Maskell welcomed Andrew’s pledge to donate money to Ms Giuffre’s charity which supports of victims’ rights, but said his relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein has caused “deep hurt and embarrassment” to York residents, PA reports.
She said: “Although it is a relief that Prince Andrew has finally acknowledged and expressed regret for his close association with a convicted sex offender and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, his long delay in doing so and initial response to the charges and Ms Giuffre have been source of deep hurt and embarrassment to many people across the city.
“Carrying a title does create an ambassadorial relationship with that place, and for somewhere with a global reputation, such as York, this is extremely important.
“It is to be welcomed that he has now pledged to support the fight against the evils of sex trafficking and its victims.
“To demonstrate his seriousness in this endeavour, and his respect for those affected by abuse and the people of our city, I would ask that his first act of contrition is to confirm his support for the withdrawal of his ducal title.”
Updated
The weakness of Prince Andrew’s legal position and fears over his own performance in the witness stand left his legal team with few options other than reaching a settlement with Virginia Giuffre that is likely to cost him $10m or more, according to several international lawyers.
Ann Olivarius, the senior partner of the McAllister Olivarius law firm who has acted in cases on both sides of the Atlantic, said she expected Prince Andrew’s settlement to be worth at least £10m, based on previous cases settled with wealthy individuals.
“The size of the compensation is probably massive by any British standards, and it’s probably very substantial by American standards – and American standards are very high,” Olivarius said.
The sum of the settlement has not been disclosed but the duke will make a “substantial donation” to Giuffre’s charity in support of victims’ rights.
Legal expert Joshua Rosenberg told Sky News if the sum was paid to a charity then it could be revealed when annual reports are released.
When asked if Giuffre, 38, could release a “tell-all” book in the future, Rosenberg said it depended on whether there is a non-disclosure agreement.
“You would have thought Prince Andrew would have requested that as part of the settlement,” he told the broadcaster.
“Whether he would be able to enforce that, I don’t know.
“But nevertheless, that’s certainly something his lawyers would have considered.
“You would have thought that both sides have agreed that they won’t say any more.”
Updated
The Duke of York is “reputationally toast” after his US civil case settlement but the legal development has protected the wider royal family from the damage of a public trial, a lawyer said.
Uk-based media lawyer Mark Stephens told the PA news agency: “With this settlement, he has prevented this court case overshadowing the tributes and acknowledgement of the Queen’s 70 years of selfless sacrifice and service to the country.
And whilst he is reputationally toast and will never appear on a royal balcony ever again and has effectively been airbrushed from polite society and the royal family, he does prevent wider problems for the royal family by ensuring this settlement goes away.
“And he has protected his children and their reputations, and he has protected the wider royal family.”
Stephens added: “I think there will be a big, deep sigh of relief in the palace tonight.”
Anti-monarchy group Republic believes there remains “a lot of serious questions” after the Duke of York’s settlement of the civil sex assault claim against him.
Graham Smith, from the campaign group, said: “I’m pleased Virginia Giuffre has achieved a settlement in this case, but there remain a lot of serious questions to which the public deserve answers.”
He said taxpayers “deserve to know where the money is coming from for a settlement, which we must assume is in the millions, if not tens of millions”, PA reports.
Smith said: “So much public money ends up in royal pockets one way or another. Are the British public ultimately paying for Andrew to avoid appearing in court?
“This scandal has done significant damage to the monarchy, and these questions aren’t going away.”
Joe Little, from Majesty magazine, told PA: “I just don’t think he’s [Prince Andrew] ever likely to resume work as a working member of the royal family.
“I think that too much water has gone under the bridge for that and the institution of monarchy has been tainted by his association with Epstein and I just think that there’s no going back on all that.”
Sigrid McCawley, one of Virginia’s Giuffre’s lawyers, said: “As a managing partner at a firm that has from its beginning acted upon the belief that the law should be marshalled to bring justice to the most vulnerable, I can say, without hesitation, that our representation of survivors upholds that tradition.
I am very pleased with the resolution of Virginia Giuffre’s litigation against Prince Andrew.”
My colleagues Harry Taylor and Rachel Hall have put together this timeline charting the fall of Prince Andrew, once second-in-line to the throne, who was accused of sexual assault at the age of 41.
The stripping of the Duke of York’s military roles and royal patronages marked a nadir for the Queen’s second son, since sexual assault accusations arose amid concern over his relationship with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. It was a fall from grace for the 61-year-old, who was once second-in-line to the throne.
19 February 1960
Prince Andrew is born at Buckingham Palace, becoming the first child born to a reigning monarch since Princess Beatrice to Queen Victoria.
1979
Andrew joins the Royal Navy as a trainee helicopter pilot. He studies at Dartmouth naval college and completes Royal Marines courses.
1982
The prince serves in the Falklands war, after Argentinian forces invade the British overseas territory in the south Atlantic. He served on HMS Invincible as a Sea King helicopter co-pilot.
1984
Andrew is promoted to lieutenant, and the Queen makes him her personal aide-de-camp. He serves aboard HMS Brazen as a flight pilot until 1986.
July 1986
Thousands line the streets in central London as Andrew marries Sarah Ferguson at Westminster Abbey, and on the same day the Queen makes him Duke of York, Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh. They have two daughters, Princess Beatrice, born in August 1988 and Princess Eugenie, born in March 1990.
March 1992
He and the Duchess of York announce they are to separate. Divorce is finalised in May 1996, although the two remain close.
1999
Andrew is reportedly introduced to Epstein, an investment banker and financier, through a mutual friend, Ghislaine Maxwell – the daughter of the late media tycoon Robert Maxwell. A photograph that comes to light during Maxwell’s 2021 trial for sex trafficking shows her and Epstein at the Queen’s Balmoral residence that year.
2000
Epstein, Maxwell and Andrew are seen at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. Later that year, Epstein and Maxwell attend a joint birthday party at Windsor Castle hosted by the Queen, and the prince throws a shooting weekend for Maxwell’s birthday.
March 2001
According to Virginia Giuffre, Andrew sexually assaults her at Maxwell’s home in Belgravia, London and also twice more, at Epstein’s New York home and at an “orgy” on his private island in the Caribbean when she was 17.
The allegation has prompted a comprehensive denial from the Duke of York.
July 2001
Andrew retires from the Royal Navy as commander. He was later promoted to rear admiral in 2010 and vice admiral in 2015.
The government appoints him as special representative for international trade and investment. He represents the UK at trade fairs and conferences around the world.
December 2010
The prince visits Epstein in New York, after his release from prison for pleading guilty to prostituting minors. They are photographed walking through Central Park.
May 2010
The Duchess of York is filmed by a tabloid reporter claiming the prince would meet a donor and pass on business contacts if she received £500,000.
July 2011
Andrew quits his trade envoy role after a furore about him visiting Epstein in New York after he had been jailed for sexual offences. Ferguson also admits accepting money from Epstein to pay off debts.
April 2015
Allegations that Andrew had sex with Giuffre emerge in court documents in Florida related to Epstein. They say she was forced to have sex with him when she was 17, which is under the age of consent under Florida law. Buckingham Palace denies the allegations.
August 2019
Epstein is found dead in his jail cell after being re-arrested and charged with sex trafficking.
As the prospect of a civil court case disappears, it's likely that Newsnight's interview with Prince Andrew will now remain the fullest account in his own words of the Duke's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. If you missed it, you can watch it here: https://t.co/JiscaiD9SG
— Stewart Maclean (@stewartmaclean) February 15, 2022
November 2019
Andrew steps back from public duties “for the foreseeable future” after a disastrous BBC TV interview where he claims he could not have had sex with Giuffre because he was at home after a visit to Pizza Express in Woking, that her description of his dancing with her beforehand could not be true because he was unable to sweat and that he had “no recollection of ever meeting this lady”.
12 January 2022
A New York judge rejects the prince’s attempts to throw out a sexual abuse civil lawsuit brought against him by Giuffre.
13 January 2022
The Queen strips her son of a range of military affiliations and royal patronages after more than 150 veterans write to describe their “upset and anger”.
14 January
Giuffre requests testimony from Andrew’s former assistant, Robert Olney, on grounds she has “reason to believe” that he has “relevant information about Prince Andrew’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein”.
15 January
Andrew’s lawyers ask to question Giuffre’s husband and psychologist on grounds that she may have “false memories”.
18 January
Shukri Walker, who may have seen Andrew with Giuffre at a London nightclub 20 years ago, says she is “willing” to provide testimony in Giuffre’s civil lawsuit. Her lawyer said “she remembers the night clearly because she never saw a royal before or since”.
26 January
In legal filings submitted to the New York court, Andrew denies that he was a co-conspirator of Epstein and that the disgraced financier trafficked girls to him, and insists on a jury trial. His lawyers also reiterate their previously unsuccessful claim that Giuffre’s 2009 settlement with Epstein shields Andrew from litigation.
5 February
A date in March is set for Andrew to give evidence under oath.
15 February
In a remarkable turnaround, Andrew reaches a settlement in principle with Giuffre in which he agrees to make a “substantial donation” to a charity, and accepts that Giuffre “suffered as an established victim of abuse”. In a document submitted to the New York court, Andrew says he regrets his association with Epstein.
You can also view the timeline here: The fall of Prince Andrew – a timeline
Updated
Prince Andrew's civil case: what was alleged and what has been agreed?
PA has this Q&A on what has been alleged and what has been agreed in Prince Andrew’s civil case.
The Duke of York and Virginia Giuffre have reached an out-of-court settlement in the civil case filed in the US. Here, the PA news agency looks at what was alleged against Andrew and what has happened up until this point.
Who is Virginia Giuffre?
Virginia Giuffre, also known as Virginia Roberts, alleges she was trafficked by disgraced British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell to be molested by financier Jeffrey Epstein and his friends.
What case did Andrew face?
Giuffre brought a case of battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress against the duke.
It was claimed she was trafficked by convicted sex offender Epstein and others to Andrew, who is alleged to have sexually abused her when she was under the age of 18.
How many allegations did the duke face?
Court documents have referenced three separate occasions in which Giuffre accuses him of sexual misconduct.
Where is the alleged sexual abuse said to have taken place?
Giuffre claimed Andrew had sex with her against her will at Maxwell’s London home.
She also alleged the royal forced her to engage in sex acts against her will at Epstein’s mansion on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.
The duke is also alleged to have sexually abused Giuffre on another occasion during a visit to Epstein’s private island, Little St James.
What reasons has Andrew previously given for the case against him to be dismissed?
In January, the duke submitted 11 reasons why the case should be dismissed, including that Giuffre’s claims are “barred by the doctrine of consent” and by “her own wrongful conduct”.
Will Andrew have to face a civil trial?
Now the case has settled out of court, the duke will not have to face a trial.
What happens now a settlement has been reached?
The parties have said they will file a “stipulation of dismissal” within 30 days, meaning they will file a notice to discontinue the case now it has been settled.
Before the stipulation is filed, the parties have asked for all deadlines and court action to be suspended.
What do we know about the details of the agreement reached between Andrew and Giuffre?
The sum of the settlement has not been disclosed but the duke will make a “substantial donation” to Giuffre’s charity in support of victims’ rights.
He has also pledged to “demonstrate his regret for his association with Epstein” by supporting the “fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims.”
Will the substantial charity donation be made from Andrew’s own private money?
Representatives of the duke declined to comment on the source of funds for the donation.
What have both sides said about the settlement?
Andrew’s representatives said they would not be commenting further than what was said in the court documents.
David Boies, the lawyer acting on behalf of Giuffre, said: “I believe this event speaks for itself.”
Updated
This is from the Labour MP Nadia Whittome
Prince Andrew now "commends Guiffre's bravery" after he accused her of lying and dragged her name through the mud.
— Nadia Whittome MP (@NadiaWhittomeMP) February 15, 2022
This settlement isn't some act of philanthropy - it prevents this case going to court.
We must also ask: where is the money coming from?
Commenting on news of the out-of-court settlement, Anna Rothwell, a lawyer at criminal law firm Corker Binning, said:
It is not surprising that Prince Andrew has settled Ms Giuffre’s civil claim in light of his disastrous Newsnight interview. That interview alone would have given Ms Giuffre’s lawyers a wealth of material to use in cross examination. It would have proven a painful deposition for the Prince, and this time his cross examination would have been under oath.
Updated
Royal author Penny Junor said the settlement made by the Duke of York is likely to come as a “huge relief” to the rest of the royal family.
She told the PA news agency:
Going to trial, it could have been very, very nasty. It could have been embarrassing, humiliating, and it would have been huge fodder for the tabloid press. It could have really taken the shine off the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year.
Lawyer Lisa Bloom, who represents eight of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims, welcomed the settlement as a “victory” for Virginia Giuffre.
She wrote on Twitter:
We hail Virginia’s victory today. She has accomplished what no one else could: getting Prince Andrew to stop his nonsense and side with sexual abuse victims. We salute Virginia’s stunning courage.
Updated
Buckingham Palace declines to comment on Prince Andrew settlement
A quick snap from Reuters reporting that Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on the news that Prince Andrew had settled a lawsuit by Virginia Giuffre accusing the Duke of York of sexually abusing her when she was a teenager.
Updated
The court document outlining the “settlement in principle” has been released. Click here to read the PDF.
Updated
Prince Andrew has reached a settlement in the civil sex claim filed by Virginia Giuffre in the US.
The unexpected development was disclosed in a document submitted to court on Tuesday. Andrew has agreed to make a “substantial donation” to a charity, and has accepted that she “suffered as an established victim of abuse”. He commended Giuffre’s bravery.
The document added that the prince also regretted his association with the financier Jeffrey Epstein, who took his life in prison while facing trial for sex trafficking.
The move is a remarkable turnaround for Andrew, who had pledged to fight to clear his name in court. He has always denied having a sexual relationship with Giuffre when she was 17.
The settlement will come as a relief to the Queen, who had reportedly helped pay her son’s legal fees. The royal family had feared that a court case would overshadow the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations this year.
Last month, Prince Andrew denied he was a co-conspirator of Epstein, and insisted on a jury trial in Giuffre’s sexual abuse lawsuit against him. “Prince Andrew hereby demands a trial by jury on all causes of action asserted in the complaint,” his lawyers wrote in court papers. Andrew also denied that Epstein “trafficked girls to him”.
Giuffre had also insisted she wanted the civil case heard in court rather than settled.
Andrew had earlier tried to get Giuffre’s case dismissed, arguing that she had waived her right to sue him under a previously secret $500,000 (£360,000) settlement she made with Epstein.
The prince was left facing a sensational court case this year in which details of his personal life would have been raked over and his denials of ever meeting Giuffre challenged.
The case risked monumental reputational damage for the Queen and the royal family, even though Andrew had already been stripped of all his royal patronages and military affiliations with the Queen’s approval. He had also agreed to stop using the style His Royal Highness in an official capacity,
Andrew was close friends with Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in December of charges including sex trafficking and conspiracy relating to the recruitment of teenage girls for Epstein to sexually abuse.
More here: Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre reach ‘settlement in principle’
Updated
Here is the letter filed to the court, via ITV’s royal editor Chris Ship
SIGNIFICANT Prince Andrew development as he and @VRSVirginia, who had accused him of sexual assault, come to a settlement for an undisclosed sum.
— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) February 15, 2022
Remember that 98% of lawsuits in USA end this way.
This are the latest court filings 👇 pic.twitter.com/znKEH2dogz
The “Settlement in Principle” has resulted in Prince Andrew making “a substantial donation to Ms. Giuffre’s charity in support of victims’ rights”. No amount has been detailed.
— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) February 15, 2022
Representatives for the Duke of York said he would not be expanding beyond the statement filed in court.
When asked for comment by the PA news agency, Virginia Giuffre’s lawyer David Boies said:
I believe this event speaks for itself.
Updated
These are from Harpers Bazaar US royal editor Omid Scobie
𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: Prince Andrew has reached a financial settlement with Virginia Giuffre, new court documents reveal. The sum will not be disclosed but lawyers for both confirm that Andrew will make a “substantial donation” to @VRSVirginia’s charity in support of victims rights.
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) February 15, 2022
There will no doubt be plenty of speculation about both parties over the days ahead. Worth noting that this deal comes just weeks before Andrew was scheduled to sit for an intense deposition, in which he would have been questioned under oath by Giuffre’s lawyers.
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) February 15, 2022
This is from Sky News political correspondent Joe Pike
In a joint statement from lawyers for both parties there is no sign of Prince Andrew admitting guilt or apologising.
— Joe Pike (@joepike) February 15, 2022
However he ‘regrets’ links to Epstein and accepts she was a victim of abuse.
Unclear what the financial settlement is, but expect it is millions of dollars. pic.twitter.com/iAjWViKvHY
Updated
Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre reach 'settlement in principle' over civil sexual assault claim
The Duke of York and his accuser Virginia Giuffre have reached an out-of-court settlement in her civil sexual assault claim filed in the US.
In a letter submitted to the United States District Court on Tuesday, Giuffre’s lawyer David Boies wrote jointly with Andrew’s lawyers to say that the parties had “reached a settlement in principle”.
Court documents show the Duke will make a “substantial donation to Giuffre’s charity in support of victims’ rights”.
Andrew has also pledged to “demonstrate his regret for his association with Epstein” by supporting the “fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims.”
The Duke of York has always denied the allegations.
A document submitted to a US court said:
Virginia Giuffre and Prince Andrew have reached an out of court settlement.
The parties will file a stipulated dismissal upon Ms Giuffre’s receipt of the settlement (the sum of which is not being disclosed).
Prince Andrew intends to make a substantial donation to Ms Giuffre’s charity in support of victims’ rights.
Prince Andrew has never intended to malign Ms Giuffre’s character, and he accepts that she has suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks.
It is known that Jeffrey Epstein trafficked countless young girls over many years. Prince Andrew regrets his association with Epstein, and commends the bravery of Ms Giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others.
He pledges to demonstrate his regret for his association with Epstein by supporting the fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims.
I will bringing all the latest updates on this story as we get them.
Updated
