Royal expert says Prince Andrew settlement with Virginia Giuffre will be seen as ‘admission of guilt

Prince Andrew’s out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre will be seen by many as an ‘admission of guilt’, a royal expert has claimed. 

The Duke dramatically settled the bombshell sexual abuse lawsuit after he agreed an undisclosed deal said to be worth £7.5million with his accuser.

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. 

Andrew has always strenuously denied the allegations against him and the settlement today did not admit to any misbehaviour.

However, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams questioned why such a payment was agreed if he was so sure of his innocence.

The Duke dramatically settled the bombshell sexual abuse lawsuit after he agreed an undisclosed deal said to be worth £7.5million with his accuser

He told the Sun: ‘Essentially has he admitted that he has done any wrong at all? No. Regretting his association with Epstein doesn’t count. He claimed innocence, but he has settled and many would regard this as an admission of guilt. If he was innocent then why did he pay?’

Speaking to MailOnline, he added: ‘The relief at the Palace will be almost tangible now the threat of further public humiliation of Andrew in this civil case has been lifted after this settlement was announced. This was always pretty certain as 97 per cent are settled in this way in the US.

‘He has simultaneously, over two and a quarter years, managed to become a serious embarrassment, a national joke and a symbol of entitlement of the worst sort. 

‘If it had ever got to court, his humiliation would have been an international cause celebre. 

‘The questioning he was shortly facing as part of the legal process by Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s legal team, would have been devastating too.

‘Although it would not have overshadowed the actual Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June, this scandal would have cast a cloud over this unique royal year. 

‘That will now not occur and he has continued to deny the charges against him, but the public will not forget the Newsnight interview, the unexplained photograph and his disastrous friendships with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

‘There is therefore no future royal role, other than possibly helping to manage the royal estates, at any time in the future for him.’ 

The settlement means the civil case will not go to a jury trial, and also that Andrew will no longer be questioned under oath by Mrs Giuffre’s lawyers – something that had been expected to take place in the coming weeks. 

District Judge Lewis Kaplan confirmed in an order tonight: ‘The joint application to suspend all deadlines and hold the action in abeyance is granted to the extent that deadlines are suspended and the action will be held in abeyance to and including March 17, 2022. 

‘In the event the stipulation of dismissal is not filed by then, it remains entirely possible that this action will be set for trial when previously indicated.’

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

Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the development today, which comes ahead of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations this summer in May and June as well as a Westminster Abbey service to remember the late Prince Philip next month. Royal sources told ITV News that the case was a matter for the Duke and his legal team.

But the news will no doubt be welcomed by the Queen and other senior royals – and will also spare Andrew from a potentially embarrassing series of disclosures and accusations in the months ahead of and during a trial.

Mr Fitzwilliams added: ‘The amount he has paid Virginia Roberts Giuffre in settlement has not been disclosed but it is likely to be huge. 

‘He has a naval pension and gets an allowance from the Queen. He has also reportedly found a buyer for his chalet, the ownership of which he shares with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson with whom he cohabits, which was on the market for £18 million, having paid a debt to its former owner. 

‘We will probably never know how Andrew raised the money for this settlement. However one thing is crystal clear, this was an emergency and this scandal was deeply destructive for the monarchy. 

‘The royal family have numerous wealthy friends and it may well be that it was thought necessary to bail out the Queen’s second son in a year that was truly unique for her and for the royal family.

‘Andrew will remain in disgrace, he strongly denies the charges, but the court of public opinion as represented in opinion polls is totally hostile as is the press and Prince Charles and Prince William have made clear there is no future role for him as a senior working royal.

‘This settlement enlists him as promising to join in the fight against sex trafficking. It therefore remains imperative that he assist the FBI in their attempts to trace Epstein’s accomplices, as he previously promised to do and has not. This is a dreadful scandal and it may not all be over yet.’