Prince Andrew braces for fresh sex abuse storm as accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s gag lifted in days
Embattled Prince Andrew could find himself in hot water again once with a big development in his abuse claim case just weeks away.
Prince Andrew is braced for a fresh sex abuse storm one year on from his alleged £3 million ($A5.3m) settlement.
According to The Sun his accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s gagging clause will reportedly be lifted in February, meaning she will be free to talk publicly once more.
Ms Roberts Giuffre was a victim of sex trafficking at the hands of paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein and his ex-girlfriend, heiress Ghislaine Maxwell.
Ms Roberts Giuffre claimed the Duke of York raped and abused her when she was 17, which he strongly denied.
The pair had been due to put the shocking allegations to a jury in court, but Prince Andrew settled the lawsuit in February 2022.
Sources say his lawyers negotiated a deal of between £3m ($A5.3m) and £5m ($A8.8m).
The agreement contained no formal admission of liability or apology from him, but it said he accepted Ms Giuffre was a “victim of abuse” and regretted his association with Epstein.
Both parties are said to have signed an order to remain silent about the case and financial deal over the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, but this expires next month, The Telegraph reports.
Ms Giuffre will then be able to resume TV and newspaper interviews, and even write a book about her experiences.
She sued the duke for unspecified damages, claiming she was forced to have sex with the then-41-year-old on three separate occasions in 2001.
The first was said to be at Maxwell’s house in London after a night out at the club Tramp, followed by Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse and in the Virgin Islands.
In an infamous Newsnight interview with the BBC’s Emily Maitlis in November 2019, Prince Andrew denied the allegations.
He said he had “no recollection” of ever meeting her, nor the photograph of him with his arm around her waist, which he suggested could be fake.
The prince even said he had an alibi, claiming that the night the alleged encounter took place he was at a Pizza Express birthday party in Woking, Surrey, with his daughter Princess Beatrice.
In the wake of the allegations, Prince Andrew was stripped of all military titles and patronages and cannot return to public duties after a showdown with the Queen.
He also no longer has an office at Buckingham Palace after his brother King Charles threw him out, along with allegedly discouraging his presence at royal events.
The Duke of York was last seen attending the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church on December 25 in Sandringham, Norfolk with other members of the royal family, which left some commentators surprised.
It comes as a musical following the life of Prince Andrew aired via Channel 4 on Thursday, leaving royal family fans in shock, according to The Sun.
The satirical show, titled Prince Andrew: The Musical, looked back on the life of the controversial duke leaving many royals fans baffled as to why it was produced in the first place.
Introducing Prince Andrew: The Musical.
— Channel 4 (@Channel4) December 28, 2022
Don't miss this reimagining of the former-HRH's major life events, including THAT Emily Maitlis interview.
All singing, all dancing, no sweating; Thursday 29th December at 9pm, Stream Free on All 4. pic.twitter.com/MBD8wLqEXF
Taking to social media, one viewer tweeted: “I’m sorry but this @Channel4 musical about #PrinceAndrew is disgusting.”
While another added: “Even as a joke/satire, come on. No one wants to see anything about him on TV.”
And a third wrote: “I hope everyone involved in that Prince Andrew musical on channel 4 is so mortified with themselves. Yes even the runners.”
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