The trial of Prince Andrew, explained

Words and Producer: Bianca Farmakis

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This week, Prince Andrew settled a civil sexual assault case brought against him in the US by Virginia Giuffre. The shocking case included three allegations of sexual assault, and shone a glaring light on the royal’s alleged involvement in convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking ring.

A letter filed to the US district court confirmed Giuffre and the Duke had reached an out-of-court settlement. The Queen’s disgraced son is speculated to pay millions, including damages, to Giuffre as a donation to a charity “in support of victims’ rights,” to stop the case proceeding to trial.

Here is a look back at the events leading to Virginia Giuffre and Prince Andrew’s legal battle.

Who is involved?

What are the allegations?

Virginia Giuffre alleged Prince Andrew sexually assaulted her three times throughout 2001. • At Maxwell’s London home • At Epstein’s New York home • At Epstein's Carribbean island

Who is Virginia Giuffre?

Giuffre (nee Roberts) is an American-Australian advocate for victims of sex trafficking. She was formerly a spa attendant at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club, where she first met Maxwell in 2000. She was also a victim of Epstein’s sex trafficking ring.

Where did it start?

Prince Andrew, a close friends of Maxwell's, reportedly met Epstein in 1999. The trio were seen partying at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in 2000 and he hosted a shooting trip for Maxwell’s birthday at Windsor Castle that same year.

In 2010, the Prince visited Epstein in New York, shortly after Epstein’s release from an 18-month prison sentence for child prostitution offences .

The allegations

In April 2015, Giuffre's first allegations were struck from court records. Four years later, after Epstein was found dead in his jail cell, they were made public. Buckingham Palace and Prince Andrew fiercely denied his involvement.

Prince Andrew publicly apologised for Epstein’s actions, claiming he sympathised “with everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure ”. He maintained his innocence.

A car crash

In November 2019, the Duke denied the allegations again in a BBC interview, widely condemned by the public. During the interview, he said he had “no recollection of ever meeting” Giuffre, and offered no explanation for a photo of the pair pictured together.

The lawsuit begins

August 2021: Giuffre files a lawsuit against Prince Andrew in New York, accusing him of sexual assault, claiming “the powerful and the rich are not exempt from being held responsible for their actions”. December 2021: The Duke attempts to block the lawsuit, citing Giuffre did not currently reside in the US. January 2022: The Duke’s attempt is denied, meaning the trial will proceed.

Demands are made

Giuffre requested a testimony from the Duke’s former assistant Robert Olney and asked the Duke to prove he cannot “sweat” - a defence he used to claim the image of them was false. In response, the prince’s lawyers sought to question Giuffre’s psychologist, claiming she may have “false memories”.

A set date, a turnaround

On February 5, a date was set for March for Prince Andrew to give evidence under oath. Within 10 days, Giuffre and Andrew reached a settlement. He pledged to “demonstrate his regret for his association ” with Epstein by supporting the “ fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims ” .

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