His embattled brother Prince Andrew settled the bombshell sexual abuse lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre, but Prince Edward has managed to escape the family drama with a ski trip to St Moritz with his wife, two children and a group of friends.
While the Duke of York, 61, was left mulling over his future after agreeing an undisclosed deal with his accuser without admitting her accusations, his younger brother, 57, was seen hitting the slopes in the upmarket ski resort after arriving via private jet.
It is not yet clear who owns the jet or who paid for their transport, although the taxpayer would not have funded the trip since it’s a private family holiday.
Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, wasted no time hitting the slopes with their son James Viscounts Severn, 14, and daughter Lady Louise, 18, who appeared a confident skier.
The Wessexes are keen skiers and often holiday on the Swiss slopes; in 2016 they were spotted arriving at St. Moritz in a £46million private jet, and in 2020 on a £49million Gulfstream G650, which costs in the region of £24,000 to charter for a two-hour flight.
Prince Edward and his son James Viscount Severn pictured on the ski lift with a group of friends while on holiday in St. Moritz
Lady Louise, 18, looked confident as she hit the slopes on a family trip with her parents, wrapping up in a navy ski jacket for an afternoon on the slopes in St Moritz, pictured left. Pictured right, her mother Sophie during the trip
It is not yet clear who owns the jet (pictured) or who paid for their transport, although the taxpayer would not have funded the trip since it’s a private family holiday
Lady Louise, 18, looked confident as she hit the slopes on a family trip with her parents, wrapping up in a navy ski jacket for the afternoon.
Appearing to share style tips with her daughter, Sophie also opted for a navy jacket, teamed with white trousers embellished with red and black stripes.
Meanwhile, Prince Edward donned a red Colmar ski jacket – an old favourite worth around £400 which he has had since 2016 – before adding a pair of sunglasses under his helmet to protect from the glare.
The Queen’s youngest son wore the coat from the Italian brand over his striped sweatshirt, while his son sported a bright blue jacket for his skiing outing.
Sophie the Countess of Wessex pictured with her husband Prince Edward and the two children Lady Louise Windsor and James Viscount Severn are seen arriving in St. Moritz by private jet together with a group of friends
Prince Edward donned a red Colmar ski jacket from the Italian brand over his striped sweatshirt for a day on the slopes, left. Sophie was seen on the ski lift with a female companion as she prepared for her run down the slope, right
Lady Louise was wrapped up warm in a turquoise jacket as she chatted to her father Prince Edward on arrival in the resort, while her mother Sophie donned a glamorous faux fur coat
Upon arrival at the glitzy resort, Lady Louise was wrapped up warm in a turquoise jacket as she chatted to her father Prince Edward, while her mother Sophie donned a glamorous faux fur coat.
Wrapped up against the winter chill, the family were virtually unrecognisable in their helmets and goggles as they enjoyed for their holiday.
The royal children, often praised for their exemplary manners and comportment, looked as comfortable as their parents on the snow.
St Moritz is something of a celebrity haunt for die-hard skiers, frequented by the likes of John Travolta, Liz Hurley and Ivana Trump, as well as a string of royals.
MailOnline has contacted representatives of the Wessexes for comment.
The Wessexes family holiday comes as Prince Andrew dramatically settled the bombshell sexual abuse lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre after he agreed an undisclosed deal said to be worth £7.5million with his accuser without admitting her accusations.
Court documents filed in New York this morning revealed the Duke of York and Mrs Giuffre have reached a ‘settlement in principle’ in the civil sex claim – but royal experts said it was ‘very, very unlikely’ that there was a way back to public royal life for the Queen’s son.
And one royal source told MailOnline: ‘I’m sure that Charles has had enough of the situation. Charles would have said to Andrew that he needed to get this sorted out as soon as possible and before the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations begin. Charles did not want this hanging over the Royal Family this year.’
Andrew will now make a ‘substantial donation’ to Mrs Giuffre’s charity supporting victims’ rights, and praised her ‘bravery’ and that of other trafficking victims, saying he has ‘never intended’ to malign her character.
Mrs Giuffre, previously known as Virginia Roberts, sued him last August, alleging he sexually abused her more than two decades ago when she was 17, a minor under US law, while the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was trafficking her.
Although the parties have settled, the agreement is not an admission of guilt from Andrew and he has always strenuously denied the allegations against him.
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