New twist in Prince Andrew’s court case

A US judge has given Prince Andrew access to a previously sealed settlement between Virginia Giuffre, the woman who accused him of sexual assault, and disgraced billionaire Jeffrey Epstein.

A US federal judge has granted Prince Andrew’s legal team permission to see a sealed settlement between Virginia Roberts Giuffre and Prince Andrew’s late friend, the disgraced billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, documents which the royal’s lawyers believe could provide the him with immunity against a lawsuit filed by Giuffre accusing him of sexually assaulting her when she was a minor.

The development was reported by Adam Klasfeld, the editor of Law & Crime News, who stated that Ms Giuffre’s lawyer David Boies called the Epstein agreement in question “irrelevant” to the suit against Prince Andrew, but agreed he has the right to see it.

Prince Andrew has been accused of sexual assault. Picture: AFP

Prince Andrew was served with a sexual assault lawsuit in the US by lawyers for Ms Giuffre who alleges that she was forced to have sex with him on three separate occasions.

In a filing with the US District Court in Manhattan, lawyers for Ms Giuffre said they sent the civil lawsuit to the Prince Andrew’s Los Angeles-based lawyer.

The royal has until October 29 to respond to the civil suit, with a remote hearing scheduled for November 3.

Andrew Brettler, who heads up Prince Andrew’s legal team, told a judge at a recent hearing that they will argue that a 2009 agreement between Ms Giuffre and billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein released the royal from “all potential liability”.

Prince Andrew, Virginia Roberts Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell are pictured together inside the London home of the jailed socialite. Picture: Channel 9

Ms Giuffre, now 38, claims Prince Andrew sexually assaulted her on three separate occasions when she was 17 — in London, New York and on Epstein’s Caribbean island.

Prince Andrew and his lawyers have strenuously denied Ms Giuffre’s claims and the royal has not been charged with crimes. Ms Giuffre’s August 9 lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.

Meanwhile, Prince Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson has said the royal family “get on with it and we move together as a unit” during difficult times, amid reports she could be questioned in regards to Ms Giuffre’s allegations surrounding her former husband, with whom she had two children.

Virginia Roberts Giuffre alleges Prince Andrew sexually assaulted her on three separate occasions. Picture: Channel 9

Prince Andrew allegedly escaped to his mother’s Scottish estate to avoid legal papers. Picture: Getty Images

Speaking to Good Morning Britain at an event in London, Ferguson – who is commonly referred to as Fergie – spoke of the tight bond the members of the royal family share.

Speaking about her former mother-in-law, the Queen, the Duchess of York said:

“She’s such an extraordinary, legendary, iconic monarch that leads by example … at 95-years-old, still carries on,” she said.

“And, for me, we get on with it and we move together as a unit.”

It comes as reports suggest the 61-year-old could face a subpoena if the Duke of York fails to get the case brought against him by Giuffre thrown out of court.

Royal insiders are reportedly concerned that any that move to involve the Duchess of York would be a “pretty traumatic” process that Prince Andrew’s lawyers would only ever enter with “due caution”, the Sunday Telegraph reported.