Prince Andrew Rejected in Effort to Get US Sexual Abuse Case Dismissed

THE GUARDIAN: Virginia Giuffre’s civil claim against duke can move forward, federal judge rules in New York

• This article contains descriptions of sexual abuse

Prince Andrew last year. Virginia Giuffre alleges Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell forced her into sex with the duke when she was 17. Andrew denies the allegation. Photograph: Reuters
Longtime Prince Andrew accuser Virginia Giuffre’s sexual abuse lawsuit against him can move forward, as a New York judge rejected the royal’s efforts to dismiss her civil claim on Wednesday.

Giuffre, who has alleged that the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell sexually abused her, said they forced her into sex with the Duke of York at age 17. She filed suit against the royal on 9 August, citing battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Prince Andrew’s legal team had argued in court papers and proceedings that Giuffre’s 2009 settlement with Epstein shielded him from her lawsuit. The settlement, which was unsealed on 3 January, awarded Giuffre $500,000.

Their agreement contained a provision that stated: “Second parties and any other person or entity who could have been included as a potential defendant … from all, and all manner of, action and actions of Virginia [Giuffre], including state or federal, cause and causes of action.”

Andrew was not mentioned by name in this settlement.

In explaining why he rejected Andrew’s motion to dismiss, Manhattan federal court judge Lewis Kaplan said it was premature to consider the prince’s efforts to cast doubt on Giuffre’s accusations. » | Victoria Bekiempis in New York | Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Prince Andrew WILL face sex assault lawsuit in US: Royal to be called for dramatic court showdown in New York as judge refuses his attempt to throw out Virginia Roberts's case accusing him of having sex with her when she was 17: Prince Andrew hoped Epstein's $500,000 settlement to drop Giuffre's claims would help dismiss her case / Duke of York's lawyers claimed it contained a clause that prevented her pursuing friends of Epstein / But New York Judge Kaplan threw Andrew's application out of court today, paving the way for civil trial / Ms Giuffre claims she was forced to have sex with the Duke three times in 2001 at Epstein's multiple homes / Andrew now faces being deposed and giving evidence at a trial penciled in for the US courts in September »

Affaire Epstein : une plainte pour agressions sexuelles contre le prince Andrew jugée recevable par la justice américaine : Souvent présenté comme le fils préféré d’Elizabeth II, le duc d’York est impliqué dans le scandale d’agressions sexuelles lié au financier américain Jeffrey Epstein, mort en 2019. Un procès civil pourrait se tenir à la fin de l’année 2022. »

La justice américaine donne son feu vert à un procès du prince Andrew : Le deuxième fils de la reine d'Angleterre est accusé d'«agressions sexuelles» par une victime du financier défunt Jeffrey Epstein. »

Die Klage gegen Prinz Andrew wird nicht fallengelassen: Der Sohn der Queen ist mit seinem Versuch gescheitert, eine Zivilklage, in der ihm Virginia Giuffre sexuelle Übergriffe vorwirft, von einem US-Richter abweisen zu lassen. »

Prinz Andrew scheitert mit Abweisungsantrag gegen Missbrauchsklage: Ein Gericht in New York wies Einwände von Prinz Andrews Anwälten zurück. Damit scheitert Andrew, die US-Klage wegen Missbrauchsvorwürfen gegen ihn zu stoppen. Der Prozess könnte im Herbst beginnen. »

Prince Andrew Plays Prominent Role in Prince Philip Memorial Service

THE GUARDIAN: Royal makes first public appearance since settling sexual assault case filed against him by Virginia Giuffre

The Queen and Prince Andrew attend the service of thanksgiving for Prince Philip. Photograph: Richard Pohle/AFP/Getty Images
Prince Andrew has prompted controversy after playing a unexpectedly prominent role escorting the Queen into a memorial service for his father, Prince Philip, in the disgraced royal’s first public appearance since settling the sexual assault case filed against him by Virginia Giuffre.

The ceremony in Westminster Abbey was held to mark a year since the Duke of Edinburgh’s death after his funeral was attended by just 30 loved ones due to pandemic restrictions.

It was uncertain until Tuesday morning whether the Queen would be able to attend after suffering poor mobility that has prevented her from travelling to official engagements.

She travelled from Windsor with Andrew, who escorted her into Westminster Abbey, offering his elbow as she moved carefully to her place using a walking stick.

Andrew’s prominent role raised eyebrows for coming so soon after a multimillion-pound out-of-court settlement in a civil sexual assault case. He continues to deny the allegation, but has stepped down from public life over his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. » | Rachel Hall and agency | Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Queen attends Prince Philip thanksgiving service: Monarch, 95, leads royal family at event in honour of husband Philip at Westminster Abbey »

Andrew escorts Queen by arm at memorial service for Prince Philip: Monarch is visibly moved as her consort finally receives the farewell that he wanted »

Prince Andrew, Banished From Royal Duties, Escorts Queen to Memorial: The prince’s conspicuous public appearance at the service for his father, Prince Philip, who died last year, sent an unmistakable message of support by a 95-year-old mother for her disgraced son. LONDON — Six weeks ago, Prince Andrew agreed to a multi-million-dollar legal settlement with a woman who accused him of raping her when she was a teenager. On Tuesday, he escorted his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, to a memorial service at Westminster Abbey to celebrate the life of her late husband, Prince Philip. »

Was Prince Andrew’s role at service a bid to rehabilitate ‘soiled royal’?: Analysis: Concerns about royal family’s judgment and message to abuse victims as prince appears at Queen’s side »

The Queen shared the limelight with Andrew – but he’s still out in the cold: No surprise he was at his father’s memorial service. But the looks from Charles and William told you his public life is over »

Prince Andrew Settles Virginia Giuffre Sexual Assault Case in US

THE GUARDIAN: Duke of York promises to make ‘substantial donation’ to Giuffre’s charity, court documents show

Prince Andrew with Virginia Giuffre. The duke accepted that Giuffre had ‘suffered as an established victim of abuse’. Photograph: US district court - Southern Dis/AFP/Getty Images
Prince Andrew has reached a settlement in the civil sexual assault 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 Giuffre “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 killed himself in prison while facing trial for sex crimes.

The move is a remarkable turnaround for the Duke of York, 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 court document 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. » | Harriet Sherwood and agency | Tuesday, February 15, 2022

The original court document can be viewed here.

Related.

Prince Andrew Settles Sexual Abuse Lawsuit With Virginia Giuffre: Financial terms of the settlement, which was announced in a federal court filing in Manhattan on Tuesday, were not revealed. »

Affaire Epstein : le prince Andrew trouve un accord avec son accusatrice, Virginia Giuffre, pour éviter un procès : L’Américaine de 38 ans accusait le deuxième fils de la reine Elizabeth II de l’avoir agressée sexuellement en 2001, alors qu’elle était mineure. Les termes financiers de l’accord n’ont pas été dévoilés. »

Prinz Andrew erzielt Einigung mit Klägerin Giuffre: Im Missbrauchsverfahren hat Prinz Andrew eine außergerichtliche Einigung mit der Klägerin Virginia Giuffre erzielt. Das geht aus einem am Dienstag veröffentlichten Gerichtsdokument hervor. »

Missbrauchsvorwürfe gegen Prinz Andrew: Einigung auf Vergleich mit Klägerin Virginia Giuffre: Nach dem Tod von Jeffrey Epstein und dem Schuldspruch von Ghislaine Maxwell rückt nun der Sohn der Queen in den Fokus. Prinz Andrew droht wegen Vorwürfen des sexuellen Missbrauchs ein Prozess. »

Andrew Renews Questions about His Royal Role

Prince Andrew, center, in Ascot, England, in 2019.Credit...Jonathan Brady/PA Images, via Getty Images
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Virginia Giuffre, one of Jeffrey Epstein’s most prominent accusers, sued the prince in New York, saying that he raped and sexually abused her when she was 17.

LONDON — Ten months ago, Prince Andrew was said to be thinking about a return to public duties within the royal family, no matter the revelations about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein or the disastrous television interview he had given about the financier’s sexual assault victims.

But those plans appeared to grow more improbable this week when Virginia Giuffre, one of the most prominent of dozens of women and girls who have accused Mr. Epstein of sexually exploiting them, sued Prince Andrew in New York, saying that he had raped and sexually abused her when she was 17.

The lawsuit raises the prospect of Prince Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II, being found liable for damages to be determined by federal court in Manhattan.

It also crystallized what analysts described as the most serious threat facing the royal family’s image, even as it grapples with accounts of racism and mistreatment from Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. » | Benjamin Mueller | Tuesday, August 10, 2021

Related article here.

Prince Andrew ‘stonewalled’ requests to cooperate, court documents say »

Of course Prince Andrew isn’t sweating over this lawsuit – he can’t »

Prince Andrew & the Epstein Scandal: The Newsnight Interview - BBC News. | View it here.

Prince Andrew Is Stripped of Military Titles as Sexual Abuse Case Proceeds

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Buckingham Palace said Andrew would not undertake any public duties and was defending his case as a private citizen.

Prince Andrew in 2019. The prince will no longer use the title “His Royal Highness.” | .John Thys/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
LONDON — Prince Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II, has been forced to relinquish his military titles and royal charities, Buckingham Palace said on Thursday, a stinging rebuke by the British royal family a day after a federal judge in New York allowed a sexual abuse case against him to go ahead.

The palace said that Andrew, 61, who has been accused by Virginia Giuffre of raping her while she was a teenager, would also no longer use the title “His Royal Highness,” a prized symbol of his status as a senior member of the royal family. In a terse statement, the palace said that Andrew would “continue not to undertake any public duties” and that he “is defending this case as a private citizen.”

Andrew, who is also known as the Duke of York, has denied Ms. Giuffre’s allegations, which date from a period in which he was friendly with the financier and convicted sex predator Jeffrey Epstein. The duke’s lawyers tried to get her lawsuit dismissed, but the judge, Lewis A. Kaplan, ruled against him on Wednesday.

The decision by Buckingham Palace completes a stunning fall from grace for a man who was once one of the royal family’s most popular members — a dashing war hero and eligible bachelor — but who has since become a disgraced figure, left to explain why he associated with a convicted criminal like Mr. Epstein. » | Mark Landler | Thursday, January 13, 2022

‘Chucked under royal bus’: Prince Andrew’s demotion shows institution’s ruthlessness: Analysis: Duke of York’s loss of royal patronages and military titles reveals inner workings of family »

Prince Charles and William demanded Andrew's exile: Shamed Duke of York was stripped of titles at crisis summit with Queen in attempt to 'ensure the survival of the Royal Family at all costs' as he faces sex assault lawsuit: Palace sources said the 'ruthless and swift' decision had been 'widely discussed' within the Royal Family / Duke of York will be banned from using the styling 'HRH' in an official capacity, according to royal source / News is a further blow for Andrew as he considers whether to press ahead with trial or settle with accuser / Experts say the duke must do a deal 'for the sake of the Queen', who is entering her Platinum Jubilee year / He was spotted today in the back of a Range Rover while being driven from his home in Windsor Great Park »

Epstein Accuser Virginia Giuffre Sues Prince Andrew

Virginia Giuffre filed a lawsuit against Prince Andrew in federal court in New York. Photograph: Bebeto Matthews/AP
THE GUARDIAN: Giuffre accuses Andrew of sexual abuse at Epstein’s mansion when she was under 18

Virginia Roberts Giuffre, an alleged victim of the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, on Monday filed a lawsuit against Prince Andrew in federal court in New York.

She accused the British royal of sexually abusing her at Epstein’s mansion in Manhattan and at other locations in 2001 when she was under the age of 18, according to court records. Prince Andrew has denied having sex with her.

“If she doesn’t do it now, she would be allowing him to escape any accountability for his actions,” Giuffre’s attorney, David Boies, told ABC News, the US news network reported.

He added: “And Virginia is committed to trying to avoid situations where rich and powerful people escape any accountability for their actions.”

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages. Giuffre accuses Andrew of sexual assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress. » | Joanna Walters in New York and agencies | Tuesday, August 10, 2021

Bill Gates says meetings with Jeffrey Epstein were ‘huge mistake’ »

Affaire Epstein : l’accusatrice du prince Andrew a déposé plainte à New York : La plainte de Virginia Giuffre, victime du vaste trafic sexuel fomenté par Jeffrey Epstein, donne un délai d’un an pour intenter une action pour agressions sexuelles. »

Machenschaften mit dem Sexualstraftäter Jeffrey Epstein: Jeffrey Epstein und seine damalige Lebensgefährtin sollen eine Frau zum Geschlechtsverkehr mit Prinz Andrew gezwungen haben. Die Amerikanerin war damals noch nicht volljährig und hat nun Klage in New York eingereicht. »

Why Andrew Had to Settle with Virginia Giuffre: Lawyers Say He Had Little Choice

THE GUARDIAN: Agreeing a payout estimated to be at least $10m spares the duke from the risk of a poor performance on the witness stand

The agreed statement between the parties stated that Prince Andrew ‘accepts that [Virginia Giuffre] has suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks’. Photograph: Chris Jackson/Getty Images
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 (£7m) 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 ($13m), 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.

“You can anticipate this would be probably in excess of £10m, even £20m perhaps. I don’t know what it is for a fact but as someone who does these agreements all the time it could easily be up there. And frankly it could be far higher.”

Mark Stephens, an international lawyer at Howard Kennedy and expert in reputation management, said he expected Prince Andrew’s settlement to reach around $10m after paying for his own legal fees, using the proceeds from the prince’s recent sale of a Swiss chalet, initially valued at $25m but which Stephens believes was sold for a “fire sale” $18m. » | Richard Adams | Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Prince Andrew’s payout to Virginia Giuffre ‘is worth its weight in gold’ for Queen: Experts suggest duke could pay about £10m after pressure from the royal family »

Royals Close Door on Andrew…

Prince William ... sees his uncle Prince Andrew as a threat to the Royal Family and will never let him return to public life, according to a new report
MAIL ONLINE: Prince Andrew has been accused of sexually abusing American Virginia Giuffre / He was made to step down from public duties following crisis talks in 2019 / Now, his nephew Prince William has reportedly said Andrew will never return / Andrew's siblings - Charles, Anne and Edward - reportedly share same feelings

Prince Andrew will not return to public life after Charles, Edward and Anne closed the door on him and William branded him a 'threat to the royal family', it has been claimed.

Scotland Yard is also reported to have spoken to the Duke of York's sexual assault accuser Virginia Giuffre over claims she was raped and sexually assaulted by Andrew when she was 17.

The royal has come under intense scrutiny over the claims and over his friendship with paedophile financier Jeffery Epstein.

Andrew, who is not facing any criminal charges, 'categorically' denies Ms Giuffre's claims against him and is thought to be keen to make a return as a working royal.

However, according to sources close to him, Prince William sees his uncle as a threat to the Royal Family and doesn't intend to let him return to public life. » | Chris Jewers for MailOnline | Published: Saturday, October 9, 2021; Updated: Sunday, October 10, 2021

Prince Andrew Will No Longer Be ‘HRH’ – and That Is Now the Least of His Worries

THE GUARDIAN – OPINION: Virginia Giuffre is unlikely to accept a settlement alone. A trial would be disastrous for the prince and his family

Prince Andrew at the Falklands veterans parade in Horse Guards Parade, London, June 2007. Photograph: Anwar Hussein Collection/ROTA/WireImage
In 1986, Prince Andrew married Sarah Ferguson at Westminster Abbey to an avalanche of enthusiastic press coverage. Thirty-five years later, he faces a lawsuit for sexual assault from Virginia Giuffre, a woman who was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein. He is disgraced, stripped of his military titles, will no longer be officially “His Royal Highness”, nor represent the Queen. After yesterday’s summit with his mother at Windsor Castle, Andrew is no longer a working royal in any capacity and must, as the statement from Buckingham Palace made clear, face the lawsuit as a “private citizen”.

Giuffre, a survivor of trafficking and abuse, has been courageous. Attacked and slandered by powerful individuals, she has continued to argue her case. She is, her team says, determined to have her day in court. The lawsuit may now go ahead as early as this autumn. In the year of the Platinum Jubilee, which was supposed to be all about celebrating the Queen and her long reign, the royal family are confronting the worrying possibility that attention will now be on the court case against Andrew. » | Kate Williams * | Friday, January 14, 2022

* Kate Williams is professor of history at Reading University and author of Rival Queens and The Edge of the Fall

Sarah Ferguson: will ex-wife continue to ‘remain steadfast’ for Prince Andrew’? : Duchess of York appears to be one of few people Andrew can still turn to for unconditional support »

Prince Andrew Cannot Ignore US Court Case, Says Accuser’s Lawyer

Prince Andrew is named as the sole defendant in a civil suit filed at a New York federal court under the state’s Child Victims Act. Photograph: Michael Mayhew/Allstar
THE GUARDIAN: Virginia Giuffre’s lawyer says it ‘would be very ill-advised for Prince Andrew to ignore judicial process’

Prince Andrew cannot hide behind his wealth and power from allegations he sexually abused a child, a lawyer for his accuser has said, warning the duke that he risks a “default judgment” if he ignores the civil case brought against him in the US.

David Boies, representing Virginia Giuffre, has said he and his client have tried everything they can to resolve the matter after alleging that the Duke of York had sex with her while she was 17 – knowing she had been trafficked by his former friend, the disgraced former financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Boies said people “ignore the courts at your peril”, adding: “It would be very ill-advised for Prince Andrew to ignore judicial process.”

He told the BBC: “If he does, it will be a default judgment against him that will be, in effect, enforced not only in the United States, but in virtually every civilised country in the world.”

Boies added that his client wanted to send a message to rich and powerful men that the behaviour in which she accuses Andrew of engaging was “not acceptable and that you cannot hide behind wealth and power and palace walls”. » | Kevin Rawlinson | Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Affaire Jeffrey Epstein : le prince Charles estime que le prince Andrew ne doit pas revenir à la vie publique

Le prince Andrew et le prince Charles, lors du jubilé de diamant de la reine Elizabeth II. (Londres, le 5 juin 2012.) | Getty Images
MADAME FIGARO : Alors que le prince Andrew est sous le joug d’accusations d’agressions sexuelles dans le cadre de l’affaire Epstein, le prince Charles estime que son frère ne reviendra pas à la vie publique. Et craint pour la réputation de la famille royale.

De nouveaux développements concernant le prince Andrew et son rôle dans l’affaire Jeffrey Eptsein viennent, encore une fois, porter atteinte à la réputation de la famille royale. Alors que le duc d’York est sous le coup d'une plainte officielle pour agression sexuelle sur mineure et abus sexuel, les membres du clan Windsor sont de plus en plus inquiets concernant la gestion de cette crise.

D’après le Times, le prince Charles aurait peur que cette dernière éclipse le jubilé de platine de la reine, qui doit avoir lieu en juin 2022. «Le prince (Charles) aime son frère et est capable d’éprouver de l'empathie durant la période trouble que ce dernier traverse, quelles qu’en soient les raisons», a déclaré une source au Times. «Cependant, cela portera atteinte à la réputation de l’institution. Il a conclu depuis longtemps qu’il s’agissait probablement d’un problème insoluble», ajoute-t-elle. Le prince de Galles pense – et espère – que son frère Andrew ne reviendra jamais à la vie publique. » | Léonie Dutriévoz | jeudi 12 août 2021

Prince Andrew: Virginia Giuffre’s Attorney on the Case against the Duke - BBC News

Aug 10, 2021 • As Virginia Giuffre - who claims Prince Andrew sexually abused her when she was 17 years-old - files a civil case against the Duke, #Newsnight interviews Ms Giuffre's attorney, David Boies.

A US woman who alleges she was brought to the UK aged 17 to have sex with the Duke of York has filed a civil case in New York claiming he abused her.

Virginia Giuffre, who was an accuser of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, claims she was sexually assaulted by Prince Andrew in London and New York.

A spokeswoman for Prince Andrew, 61, said there was "no comment" on the case, which was filed under New York's Child Victims Act. He has consistently denied the claims.

The case alleges the prince sexually abused Ms Giuffre - then known as Virginia Roberts - at the London home of Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and at Epstein's homes in Manhattan and Little St James in the US Virgin Islands.

It claims the prince engaged in sexual acts without her consent, knowing how old she was and "that she was a sex-trafficking victim". >br />
For Newsnight, the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire interviews Virginia Giuffre's attorney, David Boies.


The FULL NEWSIGHT interview here.

GUARDIAN EDITORIAL: Prince Andrew should do his duty »

Prince Andrew Won't Voluntarily Cooperate in Epstein Inquiry, Prosecutor Says

THE GUARDIAN: Despite public offer to help with investigation Andrew has ‘completely shut the door’, and New York attorney general is now considering other options

Prince Andrew has “completely shut the door” on cooperating with US investigators in the Jeffrey Epstein case and they are now “considering” further options, a New York prosecutor said on Monday.

Andrew was a friend of Epstein, the wealthy financier and convicted sex offender whose death in custody while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in New York last year was ruled a suicide.

Andrew denies all claims of sexual misconduct relating to the Epstein case but has stepped back from public duties as a result of his connection to it.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Manhattan US attorney Geoffrey Berman said: “Contrary to Prince Andrew’s very public offer to cooperate with our investigation into Epstein’s co-conspirators, an offer that was conveyed via press release, Prince Andrew has now completely shut the door on voluntary cooperation and our office is considering its options.” » | Martin Pengelly and Kenya Evelyn in New York | Monday, March 9, 2020

Prince Andrew Asks US Judge to Dismiss Lawsuit Alleging Sexual Abuse

THE GUARDIAN: Duke of York says Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of forcing her to have sex when she was 17, failed to state claim warranting relief

Prince Andrew in 2013. He said if a dismissal were not granted, Virginia Giuffre should provide a ‘more definitive statement’ of her allegations. Photograph: Shizuo Kambayashi/AP
THE GUARDIAN: Duke of York says Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of forcing her to have sex when she was 17, failed to state claim warranting relief

Prince Andrew has asked a US judge to dismiss Virginia Giuffre’s civil lawsuit accusing him of sexually abusing her when she was 17.

In a filing with the US district court in Manhattan on Friday, the Duke of York said the case should be dismissed because Giuffre failed to state a claim warranting relief.

He also said that if dismissal were not granted, Giuffre should provide a “more definitive statement” of her allegations.

Lawyers for Giuffre did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Giuffre, 38, who is one of Jeffrey Epstein’s most prominent accusers, sued Andrew for unspecified damages in August.

She accused him of forcing her to have sex when she was underage at the London home of Ghislaine Maxwell, a longtime associate of Epstein, the late financier and registered sex offender, more than two decades ago.

Giuffre also accused Andrew of abusing her at Epstein’s mansion in Manhattan, and on one of Epstein’s private islands in the US Virgin Islands.

Andrew, 61, a former friend of Epstein, has not been charged with crimes, and has “categorically” denied Giuffre’s claims. » | Reuters | Friday, October 29, 2021

Prince Andrew is accused of 'victim shaming' by branding Virginia Giuffre a publicity-hungry liar who made up her claims of sexual assault for a 'payday' »

Prince Andrew’s Uncertain Legal Fate Casts Shadow on Britain’s Royals

THE NEW YORK TIMES: As Queen Elizabeth II prepares to mark 70 years on the throne this year, a sexual abuse case in a Manhattan court involving her son could mean more turmoil for the royal family.

LONDON — Queen Elizabeth II will mark 70 years on the throne in February, a milestone unmatched by any British sovereign and a chance to turn the page on three years of ceaseless turmoil in the royal family. But a sexual-abuse lawsuit unfolding in a Manhattan courtroom could yet spoil her celebration.

On Tuesday, lawyers for the queen’s second son, Prince Andrew, asked a federal judge to throw out a lawsuit by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, in which she claims that Andrew, a friend of the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, raped her when she was 17.

It was the latest in a skein of legal maneuvers by the prince’s lawyers to defuse Ms. Giuffre’s case. While the judge, Lewis A. Kaplan, did not immediately rule on the motion, leaving Andrew’s legal fate unsettled for now, the hearing dramatized the shadow that the 61-year-old prince still casts over his family.

If the judge allows the case to go forward, Andrew could face damaging testimony from Ms. Giuffre about his alleged abuse of her at Mr. Epstein’s residences in New York and in the Caribbean. That would plunge the House of Windsor back into scandal at the very moment it hopes to use the Platinum Jubilee to remind Britons of the queen’s extraordinary longevity and largely blemish-free record of service.

The 70-minute hearing gave a glimpse into the kinds of issues that could spill out in a prolonged trial. At one point, Prince Andrew’s lead lawyer, Andrew B. Brettler, argued that Ms. Giuffre had not been specific in her allegations against him. Judge Kaplan replied that she claimed she had been subjected to “involuntary sexual intercourse” and asked what was not clear about that. » | Mark Landler | Tuesday, January 4, 2022

The Downfall of Prince Andrew: Here’s What You Need to Know

THE NEW YORK TIMES: After a New York judge ruled that a civil suit against the prince could move forward, he was stripped of his military titles. What happens now?

Prince Andrew, Queen Elizabeth II’s second son, in Norfolk, Britain, in 2020. | Will Oliver/EPA, via Shutterstock
He was a dashing helicopter pilot and war hero, who captivated millions of Britons during the Falkland Islands war. Royal watchers liked to say he was a favorite of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

These days, however, Prince Andrew, 61, is drawing global infamy and revulsion over accusations that he raped a teenager in 2001.

The prince has repeatedly denied the accusations. But this week, his once-glittering royal life was shattered irreparably after a federal judge in Manhattan ruled that a civil case related to the sexual abuse accusations could proceed.

The reaction from Buckingham Palace was swift and punishing. Just a day later, the prince’s 95-year-old mother stripped him of his military titles and royal patronages. Going forward, the prince will no longer use the title “His Royal Highness,” a symbol of his status as a senior member of the royal family. The Sun, a popular British tabloid, summed it up: Prince Andrew had been “effectively banished.”

Looming over the case is the prince’s friendship with the former financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who the accuser, Virginia Giuffre, claimed had trafficked her to the prince. Mr. Epstein committed suicide in prison in 2019.

The case has deeply shaken the royal family, already buffeted by scandal and the rancorous departure of Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan. The timing could hardly be worse: Queen Elizabeth is poised to celebrate her 70th anniversary on the throne this year, and the monarchy — the symbol and unifier of an often restive nation — has been seeking to burnish and renew its brand for future generations. » | Dan Bilefsky | Sunday, January 16, 2022

Leer en español :

La caída del príncipe Andrés: esto es lo que hay que saber : Al príncipe se le retiraron sus títulos militares luego de que un juez de Nueva York falló que una demanda civil en contra suya era procedente. ¿Qué pasará ahora? »

Prince Andrew: The Lengthy and Embarrassing Legal Ordeal Ahead

THE GUARDIAN: The lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre in Manhattan is likely to go to trial by jury, US legal experts say

When a Manhattan judge rejected Prince Andrew’s efforts to dismiss Virginia Giuffre’s sexual abuse lawsuit against him on Wednesday, it marked a victory for his longtime accuser.

Judge Lewis Kaplan’s ruling also means that the embattled royal will remain embroiled in lengthy – and embarrassing – legal proceedings for the foreseeable future.

“This is a huge development because it clears probably the biggest legal hurdle Virginia Giuffre and her team had to get her case to a jury,” said Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor and co-founder of West Coast Trial Lawyers.

Giuffre, now 38, has long alleged that she was coerced into sex with the Duke of York at the age of 17 by two of his associates – the disgraced American financier effrey Epstein and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell. Andrew’s lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Kaplan’s decision. » | Victoria Bekiempis in New York | Thursday, January 13, 2022

Im von Virginia Guiffre angestrengten Verfahren bleiben Prinz Andrew nur noch schlechte Optionen: Dem Herzog von York bleibt keine andere Wahl mehr, als auf die Missbrauchsvorwürfe des Epstein-Opfers Virginia Guiffre zu reagieren. Sowohl ein aussergerichtlicher Vergleich wie ein Prozess wären mit einem grossen Imageschaden verbunden. »

Prince Andrew civil case: What happens next?: It couldn't have been a worse result for Prince Andrew. »

Prince Andrew Served with Lawsuit from Jeffrey Epstein Accuser Virginia Giuffre

THE GUARDIAN: A US court document showed paperwork was filed at Royal Lodge and a response is due by 17 September

Prince Andrew has been served with an affidavit for a lawsuit from Jeffrey Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre. Photograph: Reuters
Prince Andrew has been served with an affidavit for a lawsuit say lawyers for Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who alleges she was forced to have sex with the royal when she was 17 years old.

A document filed in a US court on Friday showed that paperwork for Giuffre’s lawsuit was filed at Andrew’s home, Royal Lodge, in Windsor on 27 August. The affidavit was accepted by a Metropolitan police officer at the gates of the property at 9.30am, after the agent filing the document had been turned away the previous day, according to the documents.

Court documents show that a response is now due from Andrew by 17 September.

Buckingham Palace referred the Guardian to an external PR agency that represents the Duke of York. A spokesperson then said: “No comment.” » | Adam Gabbatt | Friday, September 10, 2021

Prince Andrew’s reputation damaged for ever by Giuffre claims, experts say »

Prince Andrew’s Criticisms of Virginia Giuffre May Backfire, Lawyers Say

THE GUARDIAN: UK experts say accusing Giuffre of seeking a ‘payday’ at prince’s expense is risky

Prince Andrew has applied to have Virginia Giuffre’s lawsuit against him in the US dismissed. Photograph: Lindsey Parnaby/AFP/Getty Images
THE GUARDIAN: UK experts say accusing Giuffre of seeking a ‘payday’ at prince’s expense is risky

Prince Andrew’s attacks on Virginia Giuffre’s character in an attempt to get her sexual assault lawsuit against him thrown out may fail and risk doing further damage to his reputation, British lawyers have said.

Having initially attempted to prevent service of the suit, which alleges that he sexually abused Giuffre when she was 17, the prince’s lawyers went on the offensive over the weekend in an attempt to get her “baseless” claim dismissed.

Their filings accuse Giuffre of seeking a “payday” at Andrew’s expense and contain references from friends and in newspaper articles to her being a “money hungry sex kitten” and recruiting girls for the convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, who died in custody in 2019, awaiting trial.

At the same time they argue that a 2009 settlement agreement between Giuffre and Epstein, formerly a friend of Andrew, absolves the prince from responsibility, a notion rejected by Giuffre’s lawyer. » | Haroon Siddique, Legal affairs correspondent | Monday, November 1, 2021

Royals Await Anxiously the Fallout from Prince Andrew’s Disgrace

THE OBSERVER: The Queen’s favourite child, under siege in the press as he awaits a critical court ruling, is not the first obnoxious royal. But he has damaged ‘the Firm’ – and it will have to change

Prince Andrew talks with the Queen as the royal family wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after Trooping the Colour in June 2018. Photograph: Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, KG, GCVO, CD, ADC, turns 62 next month. It is long past the age at which a man is expected to stop being a cause of concern and embarrassment to his parents. And yet Andrew, who is said to be the Queen’s favourite child, has exposed his mother to the greatest threat to the royal family’s reputation in living memory.

As he awaits the decision of a New York judge, Lewis Kaplan, in the sex assault case brought by Virginia Giuffre, the prince finds himself in the deeply unedifying position of trying to evade court with a secret silencing deal struck by his late friend and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.

The agreement, signed in 2009, stated that in exchange for being paid $500,000, Giuffre, then using her maiden name of Roberts, would “release … and forever discharge … second parties and any other person or entity who could have been included as a potential defendant … from all, and all manner of, action and actions of Virginia Roberts, including state or federal, cause and causes of action”.

Giuffre maintains that in 2001 when she was 17 she was trafficked by Epstein and his sometime girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell to have sex with the prince on three occasions – once in Maxwell’s house in Belgravia, where the infamous photograph was taken of her with the then 42-year-old prince’s hand around her waist, on the second occasion at Epstein’s mansion in New York and finally on Epstein’s private island, Little St James in the US Virgin Islands, with a group of other girls. The prince denies all allegations and says he has no recollection of ever having met Giuffre. » | Andrew Anthony | Saturday, January 8, 2022