Prince Andrew fears ‘complete financial ruin’ over his civil sex abuse case as legal bills mount up and potential £10m settlement with accuser Virginia Giuffre hangs over him
- Duke of York’s lawyers’ fees are currently at least £2million as costs rise
- Disgraced duke was stripped of his military titles and patronages Thursday
- Andrew is in talks with his lawyers in the UK and US ahead of a deadline
Prince Andrew has begun to fear ‘complete financial ruin’ as the costs start mounting up amid his ongoing civil sex abuse case.
The Duke of York’s lawyers’ fees are currently at least £2million and legal experts believe he may have to pay £10million to his accuser Virginia Giuffre to stop the case coming to court.
The disgraced duke was stripped of his military titles and remaining royal patronages following a 30-minute audience with the Queen on Thursday.
Today Andrew is in talks with his lawyers in the UK and US as Ms Giuffre’s team respond to a 6pm deadline regarding her living arrangements, according to The Mirror.
It is believed Andrew’s team are arguing the case cannot be held in a US federal court because Ms Giuffre, 38, has lived in Australia since 2002.
Ms Giuffre has claimed Andrew had sex with her on three occasions when she was just 17.
The Duke of York’s lawyers’ fees are currently at least £2million and legal experts believe he may have to pay £10million to his accuser Virginia Giuffre to stop the case coming to court
Andrew, who denies the allegation, has complained to friends about the financial impact of the case, adding that he fears being left insolvent.
A royal source said: ‘Until very recently it appears the absolute enormity of this case and the consequences he faces has not hit him (Andrew).
‘Now the bills are mounting up and the possibility of a settlement, or even worse a judgement against him, is being widely discussed; he fears complete financial ruin.
‘There is a very real prospect of him being completely broke.’
A spokesman for the Duke of York would not comment when approached by MailOnline.
It is understood the Queen will ‘not assist’ her son in paying a settlement because of the damage it could do to the crown’s reputation.
After the Queen banished him from royal life, Andrew was left to fight the allegations as a ‘private citizen’.
One source said senior royals have said Andrew has ‘run out of road’ following a New York judge’s decision to throw out the Duke’s latest effort to stop a full civil trial.
It is understood the Queen will ‘not assist’ her son in paying a settlement because of the damage it could do to the crown’s reputation. Pictured, Prince Andrew with Virginia Giuffre in London in 2001
Andrew, who denies the allegation, has complained to friends about the financial impact of the case, adding that he fears being left insolvent
Prince Andrew has now been rushing to sell a £17million Swiss chalet amid rising debts. He still owes a £6million payment to a French socialite he bought the alpine mansion from in 2014.
Sources close to the Duke said he would ‘continue to fight to clear his name’.
Meanwhile, it was revealed Andrew was given just two hours notice on Thursday to attend a face-to-face meeting with the Queen at midday – with the duke ‘fully aware what was coming’.
It has also been confirmed Andrew will not lose his security detail, following speculation over how he would afford to fund the £300,000-a-year team.
It has been suggested the Queen would privately meet the cost if necessary.
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