MPs barred from investigating Prince Andrew’s sexual assault settlement

British MPs have been barred from investigating whether public money was used to help Prince Andrew pay off his sex accuser Virginia Giuffre.

British MPs have been barred from probing whether public money helped Prince Andrew pay off his sex accuser.

The ancient rules mean they are restricted from discussing royalty in the House of Commons, which is the United Kingdom’s lower house of parliament.

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MPs have been barred from probing whether public money helped Prince Andrew pay off his sex accuser. Picture: US District Court – Southern District of New York (SDNY)/AFP

Prince Andrew settled out of court for a sum said to be up to $AU22 million, with the Queen helping out. Picture: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images.

But one MP is now demanding a minister comes to the House to confirm none of the Sovereign Grant — paid to the royals by the public — was used to compensate Virginia Giuffre, 38.

The Duke of York, 61, denied raping her when she was 17.

He settled out of court for a sum said to be up to £12 million ($AU22 million), with the Queen helping out.

Labour MP Andy McDonald has written to minister Steve Barclay in a bid to confirm no taxpayer cash was used.

He said: “Raising an issue relating to the Royal Family in the House is fraught with difficulties.”

But he asked him to establish “no public funds have been or will be used in part or whole in satisfaction of the settlement”.

Labour MP Andy McDonald has written to minister Steve Barclay in a bid to confirm no taxpayer cash was used for the settlement. Picture: YouTube/Labour Party.

“The Sovereign Grant supports the monarch and certain members of the Royal Family in carrying out their official duties,” a Government spokesman said.

“Prince Andrew stopped receiving support through the Sovereign Grant in 2019 when he ceased carrying out official duties.”

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.