Prince Andrew ‘fears financial ruin’ amid sex abuse claims
Prince Andrew is reportedly concerned about being “completely broke” after being stripped of his military titles and royal patronages amid a sex assault lawsuit.
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Prince Andrew fears he could be left “completely broke” after being stripped of his military titles and royal patronages amid his legal battle against Jeffrey Epstein victim Virginia Roberts Giuffre.
The Duke of York is up against mounting legal costs as he fights a sex-assault lawsuit from Giuffre that he worries could leave him penniless, the Daily Mail reported.
“Until very recently it appears the absolute enormity of this case and the consequences he faces has not hit him,” a source told the outlet. “Now the bills are mounting up and the possibility of a settlement, or even worse a judgment against him, is being widely discussed; he fears complete financial ruin.
“There is a very real prospect of him being completely broke.”
Prince Andrew — who has denied the allegations — has legal and p.r. fees that could hit $3 million, according to a report in the New York Post.
In addition, he may have to shell out more than $13.6 million to settle the case brought by Giuffre.
Giuffre asserts in the Manhattan federal lawsuit she was forced to have sex with the prince three times, beginning when she was 17.
Senior royals reportedly feel Prince Andrew has “run out of road” to fight the case, sources said.
On top of his legal troubles, Prince Andrew is on the hook for A$12 million debt involving a French socialite, Isabelle de Rouvre, who sold a Swiss chalet to Prince Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, in 2014, the Mirror reported. Prince Andrew recently sold the chalet for A$31 million, according to reports.
“Andrew thought, indeed he was advised, that this would all go away in time, and neither has happened, leaving him facing an extraordinary uphill battle to even salvage any crumb of his reputation,” a source reportedly told the Mirror.
The Queen will “not assist” her son financially, according to reports, which state Prince William and Prince Charles have been “furious” with Prince Andrew over the scandal.
While he’s facing being on his own financially, the Queen has allegedly relented on at least one aspect of Prince Andrew’s life: paying the cost of his security, according to a report in the Mirror.
That bill is believed to be more than A$570,000 a year, the outlet reported.
ANDREW CLAIMS ACCUSER MAY HAVE ‘FALSE MEMORIES’
Meanwhile, Prince Andrew’s lawyers want to question a psychologist who treated the Australian-based woman accusing him of sexual assault, claiming she may “suffer from false memories”.
Court documents show they want Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s Australian husband, Robert, and psychologist Dr Judith Lightfoot to be examined under oath.
The extraordinary move comes even though Prince Andrew claims he doesn’t remember meeting his accuser – despite the infamous photo of him with his arm around her.
Prince Andrew has repeatedly denied the allegations against him.
The move was quickly ridiculed by legal experts who described it as a “typical tactic” used in historic sexual abuse cases, the BBC reported.
It comes after Ms Roberts Giuffre said the royal “must be held accountable” a day after her lawsuit stripped him of titles and military honours.
“I’m glad I will have the chance to continue to expose the truth,” Ms Roberts Giuffre tweeted.
“My goal has always been to show that the rich and powerful are not above the law and must be held accountable,” she wrote.
Ms Roberts Giuffre has long claimed that late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and convicted British sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell made her have “disgusting” sex with the royal three times, starting in 2001 when she was just 17.
The allegations led to the Duke of York being stood down from royal duties in November 2019, but the final humiliation came on Friday when he was formally stripped of his royal and military titles.
“I’m pleased with Judge Kaplan’s ruling yesterday that allows my case against Prince Andrew to go forward,” Ms Roberts Giuffre wrote.
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. 1/3
— Virginia Giuffre (@VRSVirginia) January 14, 2022
“I’m glad I will have the chance to continue to expose the truth and 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 and must be held accountable.
“I do not walk this path alone, but alongside countless other survivors of sexual abuse and trafficking,” she said.
CHARLES, WILLIAM ‘WANTED ANDREW OUT’
It was also revealed that the Queen, Princes Charles and Prince William were “absolutely furious” with Prince Andrew after he “crossed a red line”.
Prince Andrew was stripped of his military medals and royal patronages after a face-to-face showdown with the Queen at Windsor on Friday.
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.
Buckingham Palace issued the terse and devastating statement on Friday that not only confirmed the historic decision, but referred to Andrew, 61, as a “private citizen” who would defend himself in a US court on sex abuse charges.
The Queen’s move effectively threw her second-eldest son out of the Royal Family, and also left him unable to use his HRH title.
Senior royals and palace aides have been discussing how to deal with the prospect of a scandalous trial in the US for some time – and the final move came hours after Andrew failed to persuade a judge to dismiss the lawsuit where he is accused of having sex with Perth-based Virginia Roberts Giuffre when she was 17.
The statement, reportedly written by the Queen herself, said: “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.”
An “absolutely furious” Prince Charles and William were said to be behind the banishing of Andrew as they worried about the damage the monarchy could suffer if he was still in the inner circle when either found guilty or forced to settle.
Even an acquittal would be a hollow victory given the damage a jury trial could inflict on the monarchy and the Queen’s legacy as she nears her platinum jubilee.
Andrew strongly denies the charges.
Prince William visited the Queen, 95, on Wednesday hours before the bombshell legal decision was delivered in the US, while Prince Charles spoke with her by phone from Scotland.
Andrew was driven to Windsor Castle for the 90-minute showdown with the Queen with his personal lawyer Gary Bloxsome, however he attended the meeting with his mother alone. Onlookers said he was ashen-faced as he returned to his nearby home.
Ms Roberts Giuffre, 38, claims she was forced into sex with Prince Andrew three times, and was trafficked by paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted last month of luring underage girls for Epstein to abuse.
The Sun said Andrew had been ‘Throne Out’, while the Daily Mail said ‘Charles Drove Andrew Out’.
The royal turmoil comes as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces calls to resign after more stories of boozy parties in his official residence, 10 Downing St, emerge.
The latest claims involve staff partying when social contact was banned, with the Queen sitting alone at her husband’s funeral the next day to maintain social distancing.
Mr Johnson was forced to apologise — and was ridiculed — when he attended a Downing St party he insists was a work event, with some in his Conservative Party calling for him to quit.
Douglas Ross, the Conservatives leader in Scotland, said his position was “no longer tenable”.
UK media reports suggest backbenchers will push for a no-confidence vote amid polls showing support for the governing party 10 points behind Labour.
Originally published as Prince Andrew ‘fears financial ruin’ amid sex abuse claims
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