Prince Andrew reaches 'settlement in principle' with Virginia Giuffre | Daily Mail Online
Prince Andrew today dramatically settled the bombshell sexual abuse lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre as he agreed an undisclosed deal with his accuser without admitting her accusations.
Court documents filed in New York revealed the Duke of York and Mrs Giuffre, who was previously known as Virginia Roberts, have reached a 'settlement in principle' in the civil sex claim.
Andrew will now make a 'substantial donation' to Mrs Giuffre's charity in support of victims' rights, and praised her 'bravery' and that of other trafficking victims, saying he has 'never intended' to malign her character.
Mrs Giuffre sued the Duke last August, alleging he sexually abused her more than two decades ago when she was 17, a minor under US law, while the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was trafficking her.
And the 61-year-old Duke said in his statement today that he 'regrets his association with Epstein' and pledged to demonstrate this 'by supporting the fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims'.
An attachment to the letter announcing the settlement to the public and the United States District Court gave brief details of the agreement between Andrew and Mrs Giuffre but indicated the sum would not be disclosed.
Attorney David Boies, who represents Mrs Giuffre, said in a filing that lawyers on both sides were telling the judge that a settlement in principle has been reached and they will request a dismissal of the lawsuit within a month.
The settlement means the civil case will not go to a jury trial, and also that Andrew will no longer be questioned under oath by Mrs Giuffre's lawyers - something that had been expected to take place in the coming weeks.