Prince Andrew has paid the agreed-upon settlement to his sexual abuse accuser Virginia Guiffre, according to her attorney.
A US District Judge in New York City agreed, Tuesday, to dismiss Guiffre’s lawsuit against the Duke of York. According to CNN, Guiffre’s attorney, David Boies, said that, after the settlement was agreed to last month, payment has been received and Guiffre is “pleased with the outcome.” Continue reading and we’ll give you the rest of the story.
Royal Family News: Guiffre Case Now Dismissed with Prejudice
Though the amount of the settlement has still not been disclosed it has been rumored to be at least $15 million. Though CNN reached out to Prince Andrew for comment, the duke has yet to respond.
After the settlement was paid, both parties filed requests for the lawsuit to be dismissed with prejudice which means the Guiffre will be prevented from refiling the claim in the same New York district court. The settlement comes in the wake of a civil lawsuit brought against the duke by Guiffre for allegedly sexually assaulting her on two separate occasions after she was trafficked to him by late financier and convicted sex trafficker, Jeffrey Epstein.
Royal Family News: Prince’s Reputation Permanently Damaged, Maintains Innocence
Guiffre alleged that the prince sexually abused her when she was 17 at Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands as well as his estate in Manhattan and Ghislaine Maxwell’s home in London. Although he has maintained his innocence throughout the legal row, the allegations against the 62-year-old prince have besmirched his public standing and caused him to be removed from his royal duties in late 2019.
In January of this year, US District Judge Lewis Kaplan denied a request made by the prince to have the case dismissed and he has been scheduled to give a statement in court on March 10, according to CNN. In a letter from Andrew’s legal team, filed last month, announcing the settlement he explains that he never intended to malign Guiffre’s character and agrees to donate to her charity in support of victim’s rights.
Royal Family News: Epstein Takes Own Life Ahead of Trial, Maxwell’s Convicted of Sex Trafficking
Jeffrey Epstein was indicted in July 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges related to a decades-long scheme involving the sexual abuse of underage girls. Epstein ultimately took his own life while in jail awaiting trial.
Epstein’s partner in crime was arrested in 2020 on sex trafficking charges and was later convicted by a federal jury on five federal including sex trafficking a minor as well as conspiracy. Be sure to stay apprised of all things royal and return here often for more spoilers, news, and updates.