Prince Andrew Settles Virginia Giuffre Claim

Prince Andrew has reached an agreement to settle claims that he sexually assaulted a teenage girl decades ago, his accuser’s lawyer said in a court filing.

Virginia Giuffre had claimed the British royal was one of several men to whom Jeffrey Epstein “lent” her for abuse. Andrew has consistently denied her claims.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment on Tuesday on the news that Queen Elizabeth’s second son had settled the lawsuit.

The settlement, including an undisclosed payment, was revealed in a joint filing in Manhattan federal court, where Giuffre had sued the Duke of York last August.

It was announced in a letter on Tuesday to the judge overseeing the case by Giuffre’s lawyer, David Boies, who said it was on behalf of both parties. Financial terms were not disclosed, but the deal requires Andrew to make “a substantial donation” to Giuffre’s charity that supports victim’s rights.

“Prince Andrew has never intended to malign Ms. Giuffre’s character, and he accepts that she has suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks,” the parties said in a joint statement filed with Boies’s letter.

“It is known that Jeffrey Epstein trafficked countless young girls over many years,” the statement continued. “Prince Andrew regrets his association with Epstein, and commends the bravery of Ms. Giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others. He pledges to demonstrate his regret for his association with Epstein by supporting the fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims.”

A U.K.-based spokesperson for Prince Andrew declined to comment on the settlement beyond the court filing.