Prince Andrew is, without doubt, the most controversial member of the royal family lately amid the investigation on his alleged involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Virginia Giuffre, who alleged that the late American financier s*x trafficked her when she was a minor, accused Queen Elizabeth’s son of s*xual assault and battery.
The Duke of York categorically denied Virginia Giuffre's allegations. Prince Andrew even claimed that he had no recollection of ever meeting his accuser and that her claims they met in London, nightclub visit, and s*x at a house in Belgravia “didn’t happen.”
Recently, a royal commentator claimed that Prince Andrew is very much likely to bounce back after his £12million settlement with Virginia Giuffre. Keep on reading to know more details.
Prince Andrew To Bounce Back After Settlement Despite Bid To ‘Smear Royals’?
Richard Hillgrove, as per Express UK, predicted a comeback from Prince Andrew in the year Queen Elizabeth is due to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee. He stated:
"Prince Andrew will bounce back as the #MeToo era is seriously waning. The entire Virginia Guiffre thing stinks of being a very well-financed campaign engineered to smear the British Royal Brand in the Queen's Platinum Jubilee year by refrying refried beans with Virginia Guiffre."
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The PR consultant, who has worked with Amber Heard, Dame Vivienne Westwood, Rose McGowan, Julian Assange, and Charles Saatchi among others, furthered:
"The Queen will now help finance the £12million settlement to avert an embarrassing court trial. Next off the blocks to try and cause as much brand damage as possible will be Prince Harry's coordinated American-style bombshell tell-all book. But the unrelenting attacks on the British Royals are not making even a chink on their armor. What would once have left people in ‘shock and awe’ was now making ‘hardly making a ripple.’”
Of all the chaos Prince Andrew has been through in the last year, Richard Hillgrove went on to say:
"Today's Prince Andrew Armageddon front pages will be tomorrow's chip paper. The public are now somewhat immunized to the sleaze-PR campaigns directed at it. Prince Andrew will inevitably carve out a new Official-Non-Official role once the dust settles a bit, which he was expertly doing in a sort of Unofficial capacity anyway with the Pitch@Palace entrepreneurial scheme. The royals are now as much loved as ever. The well-financed coordinated attacks from the other side of the pond aren't doing what they set out to."
Legal representatives for Prince Andrew said, in a letter submitted on behalf of both parties to the United States District Court earlier this week, that the Duke of York has “never intended” to malign the character of Virginia Guiffre and that he “regrets his association” with the late convicted s*x offender, Jeffrey Epstein.
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As per reports, the agreement states that Prince Andrew would donate to Virginia Guiffre’s charity in support of victim’s rights and that he has pledged to “demonstrate his regret for his association with Epstein” by supporting the “fight against the evils of s*x trafficking and by supporting its victims.”
No details have been revealed about the settlement and costs. However, it has been claimed that Prince Andrew has agreed to pay an eight-figure sum. An attachment to the letter announcing the settlement read:
"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. Prince Andrew has never intended to malign Ms Giuffre's character, and he accepts that she has suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks. It is known that Jeffrey Epstein trafficked countless young girls over many years. Prince Andrew regrets his association with Epstein, and commends the bravery of Ms Giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others. He pledges to demonstrate his regret for his association with Epstein by supporting the fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims."
David Bois, one of the lawyers of Prince Andrew’s accuser, responded to the settlement, saying:
"I believe this event speaks for itself."
Sigrid McCawley, who also represents Virginia Giuffre, added:
"As a managing partner at a firm that has from its beginning acted upon the belief that the law should be marshalled to bring justice to the most vulnerable, I can say, without hesitation, that our representation of survivors upholds that tradition.”
Buckingham Palace has yet to comment on Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre’s settlement.
Anger Erupts In The UK Over Prince Andrew’s ‘£12 million’ Settlement
Meanwhile, the British media and a number of royal followers have lambasted Prince Andrew and called on him to withdraw entirely from public life. The Sun, in its editorial, said:
“Andrew is finished — undone by his insufferable arrogance, entitlement, and staggering naivety. He must retreat entirely from public life and live out his retirement in ignominy.”
Opposition Labour MP Rachael Maskell also demanded Prince Andrew to give up his Duke of York title to show “respect” for the people of the city she represents. British commentators and netizens also criticized the ex-husband of Sarah Ferguson for claiming that he had never met Virginia Giuffre, with some wondering why Prince Andrew had agreed to settle for such a large amount if he really did not do anything.
Lawyers of the Duke of York had previously questioned the authenticity of a photo of Prince Andrew and Virginia Guiffre. It also featured socialite and a close pal of Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of recruiting and grooming young girls to be s*xually abused by the late Jeffrey.
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