Prince Andrew’s accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre has responded after the royal family abandoned him

Prince Andrew’s accuser has spoken out after a judge said her claims against him can be heard and the royal family stripped him of his titles.

Prince Andrew’s rape accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre has said the “rich and powerful” will be held to account as her case against the Duke goes ahead.

The 38-year-old has spoken out for the first time following the humiltaring ruling against the Queen’s “favourite son”.

Taking to Twitter, Ms Roberets Giuffre said: “I’m pleased with Judge Kaplan’s ruling yesterday that allows my case against Prince Andrew to go forward.

“I’m glad I will have the chance to continue to expose the truth & I am deeply grateful to my extraordinary legal team.”

“Their determination helps me seek justice from those who hurt me and so many others.

“My goal has always been to show that the rich and powerful are not above the law & must be held accountable.

“I do not walk this path alone, but alongside countless other survivors of sexual abuse & trafficking,” she concluded.

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Princess Beatrice, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex during Trooping The Colour, the Queen's annual birthday parade.

It comes after news that the Queen, Princes Charles and Prince William were “absolutely furious” with Andrew after he “crossed a red line”.

Prince Andrew was sensationally stripped of his military medals and royal patronages after a face-to-face showdown with the Queen.

The Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Cornwall are said to have been “furious” with the Duke of York for bringing the Royal Family into disrepute. The Sun reports.

Charles and William urged the Queen to strip Andrew of his royal patronages and military titles during an hour-long summit at Windsor.

Her Majesty reportedly made the decision on Wednesday after a meeting with her eldest son and the Duke of Cambridge.

William was reportedly a key figure in the Judgement, and helped his grandmother realise Andrew’s position was “grave”

The bombshell news was announced by Buckingham Palace this evening and comes amid growing anger at the Duke of York’s civil sex assault lawsuit.

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Prince Andrew has been stripped of his royal title and military honours. Picture: John Thys/AFP.

Angela Levin told The Sun Online: “If the Queen asked Prince Charles and Prince William they would have been very firm, Prince William and Prince Charles have been absolutely furious with him bringing the Royal Family into disrepute.

“Whatever he may or may not have done he certainly was a friend of Epstein and invited him to parties, royal parties when they knew he had been accused of having relationships with underage girls.

“So there’s no doubt about that. I would imagine that this time the Queen would also listen to her aides.

“But she also has strong views so if she didn’t want to do it, she wouldn’t have done it – she obviously felt they’d crossed a red line.”

The Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William are said to be ‘absolutely furious’ with Andrew. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images.

Andrew’s military affiliations and royal patronages have been returned to the Queen with immediate effect after he was accused of sexually assaulting Virginia Roberts Giuffre when she was just 17.

The Duke will also no longer be able to use ‘His Royal Highness’ – and will face his US lawsuit as a “private citizen” meaning he can’t hide behind royal privileges.

It comes after a judge sensationally gave the go-ahead for a civil trial before a jury in New York later this year.

The royal, 61, vehemently denies any wrongdoing.

Angela Levin added: “I am astonished that the Palace has operated so quickly.

“I think they must be absolutely furious with him – because they haven’t just put aside the HRH title, they have said he’s got to face the case as a private citizen and I think that is capital letters for him as to how he must now behave and take it seriously.

“But now it’s like having cold water thrown in your face to wake you up.

“I also felt the Palace had to act very fast because this antimonarchy group that’s got former members of the navy and the army writing to the Queen herself saying they don’t want him to carry on being patron.”

Charles would have been furious at his younger brother for bringing the family into disrepute, Angela Levin said. Picture: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images.

The Queen cuts Andrew adrift

Prince Andrew has been stripped of all his military titles

He will no longer be able to use ‘His Royal Highness’ in any official capacity

He was told the decision in a face-to-face meeting with Her Majesty

The decision was approved by the Queen – but discussed ‘widely with the Royal Family’

Andrew can’t ‘hide behind’ his royal privileges and is fighting the sex abuse lawsuit ‘as a private citizen’

He will not undertake any public duties, the Palace confirmed

Prince Andrew’s former titles will be distributed among other members of the royal family

Buckingham Palace said in a statement this evening: “With The Queen’s approval and agreement, The Duke of York’s military affiliations and Royal patronages have been returned to The Queen.

“The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen.”

The Queen confirmed the bombshell news to the world after telling Prince Andrew in a face-to-face meeting.

According to a source, today’s decision to strip Andrew of his military titles was “widely discussed among the royal family.”

In time, his titles will be redistributed to other family members, according to a royal source.

He will also lose his formal royal title – meaning he can no longer refer to himself as His Royal Highness.

An insider close to the Duke insisted he would continue to defend himself against the allegations made in the lawsuit.

Prince Andrew, Virginia Giuffre, and Ghislaine Maxwell posing for a photo. Picture: Florida Southern District Court/Supplied

One is not amused

The source said: “Given the robustness with which Judge Kaplan greeted our arguments, we are unsurprised by the ruling.

“However, it was not a judgment on the merits of Ms Giuffre’s allegations.

“This is a marathon not a sprint and the Duke will continue to defend himself against these claims.”

Andrew’s titles had been suspended since he stepped down from public duties in 2019 amid fury at his friendship with paedo Jeffrey Epstein.

But until today, the Duke retained his roles – which left eight British regiments in limbo more than two years on.

His honours included Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, Honorary air commodore of RAF Lossiemouth and Deputy colonel-in-chief of The Royal Lancers (Queen Elizabeth’s Own).

Andrew had not attended a single military event since he stepped back from royal duties two years ago.

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