In a stunning capitulation that spared the British monarchy a humiliating public trial, Prince Andrew quietly settled with Virginia Giuffre in February 2022, paying a reported $16 million to end her explosive sexual abuse lawsuit just weeks before he was set to face blistering cross-examination.T

In a discreet resolution that averted a highly publicized trial, Prince Andrew reached an out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre in February 2022, effectively concluding her civil lawsuit accusing him of sexual abuse. The agreement, filed in a New York federal court, ended the case without any admission of liability from the duke, who has consistently denied the allegations.

Giuffre, a prominent Jeffrey Epstein accuser, filed the lawsuit in August 2021 under New York’s Child Victims Act. She claimed Andrew sexually assaulted her three times in 2001—when she was 17—at locations including Ghislaine Maxwell’s London home, Epstein’s New York mansion, and his private island. Andrew vehemently rejected the claims, stating he had no recollection of meeting her and questioning key evidence, like the famous 2001 photograph showing his arm around her waist.

As the case advanced, with depositions scheduled and a potential jury trial looming later in 2022, both parties opted for settlement. The joint statement expressed Andrew’s regret for his association with Epstein, acknowledged the financier’s trafficking of young girls, and commended Giuffre’s bravery alongside other survivors. Andrew pledged a substantial donation to Giuffre’s charity supporting victims’ rights.

Financial details remained confidential, though media reports estimated the payout at up to £12 million (around $16 million), partly funded through private royal sources and the sale of Andrew’s Swiss chalet. No public funds were used, per official statements. The settlement was finalized in March 2022, with the case dismissed upon payment.

The deal spared Andrew further scrutiny under oath but cost him dearly: he was stripped of military titles, royal patronages, and the use of “His Royal Highness.” It marked a fall from grace tied to his Epstein friendship, amplified by a disastrous 2019 BBC interview.

Giuffre, who tragically died by suicide in April 2025 at age 41, viewed the outcome as validation. Her posthumous memoir Nobody’s Girl (October 2025) reiterated her allegations, ensuring her voice endures. While the settlement provided closure legally, it left public questions unanswered, fueling ongoing debate over accountability in Epstein’s elite network.