In a courageous move that sent shockwaves through elite circles, Virginia Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit against Britain’s Prince Andrew on August 9, 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The bold action accused the Duke of York of sexually assaulting her on three occasions in 2001 when she was 17, alleging he knowingly participated in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation.
Giuffre, then known as Virginia Roberts, detailed in court filings how Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell groomed and trafficked her as a teenager. Recruited at Mar-a-Lago while working a summer job, she claimed she was forced into sexual encounters with powerful men, including Andrew. The allegations specified assaults in London at Maxwell’s home (following a nightclub visit captured in the infamous photo of Andrew with his arm around Giuffre), Epstein’s New York mansion, and his private island, Little St. James.
The lawsuit, filed under New York’s Child Victims Act—which extended the statute of limitations for abuse claims—sought unspecified damages for battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and lasting trauma. Giuffre stated Andrew knew her age and trafficking status yet proceeded, fearing repercussions due to his “powerful connections, wealth, and authority.”
Andrew vehemently denied the claims, insisting he had no recollection of meeting Giuffre and labeling the suit “baseless.” His legal team attempted dismissal, citing a 2009 Epstein settlement that purportedly released “potential defendants,” but Judge Lewis Kaplan rejected this in January 2022, allowing the case to proceed.
As depositions loomed and a trial risked exposing more details, the parties reached an out-of-court settlement in February 2022. Andrew agreed to an undisclosed payment—reportedly substantial—plus a donation to Giuffre’s victims’ rights charity, without admitting liability. He expressed regret for his Epstein association and praised survivors’ bravery.
Giuffre’s lawsuit marked a pivotal moment, stripping Andrew of royal titles and duties while amplifying calls for accountability in Epstein’s network. Though settled without trial, it empowered survivors and highlighted elite complicity. Giuffre continued advocacy until her tragic suicide in April 2025; her posthumous memoir Nobody’s Girl (October 2025) reiterated the allegations, ensuring her voice endures.
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