The Duke of York “must be held accountable” his accuser has said this morning after he was stripped of all military titles and patronages by the Queen.
Virginia Roberts Giuffre praised a court ruling enabling her civil sex case against Prince Andrew to proceed to trial, saying she was “pleased” with the ruling and the chance to “expose the truth”.
She said: “Their determination helps me seek justice from those who hurt me and so many others. My goal has always been to show that the rich and powerful are not above the law & must be held accountable.”
It comes after Prince Andrew agreed to no longer use his HRH title, in an attempt to protect the Royal family from the fallout of the sexual abuse case.
The Duke, 61, was summoned to Windsor Castle for a 45-minute meeting with his mother, amid increasing speculation that he will have to pay off Ms Giuffre.
However, the Duke insisted he would continue to defend the civil case, related to his friendship with the billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, as a “private citizen” – declaring it a “marathon not a sprint”.
The case will see British witnesses deposed by Ms Guiffre’s legal team, with speculation that the Duke’s ex-wife, the Duchess of York, and eldest daughter, Princess Beatrice, could be asked to give evidence.
It is understood that the Queen’s decision was taken following lengthy discussions between Her Majesty, 95, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge.
Regardless of whether there is a trial or a settlement, the legal process is likely to be extremely embarrassing for the Royal family. It is thought this development is an attempt to shield the Royal family, and leaves no way back to a public role for the Queen’s second son, with all official ties severed, leaving him in a form of internal exile.
The unprecedented move represents the second time in just two years that a senior royal, born as an HRH, has been asked not to use the title in an official capacity, following the departure of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to the US.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman issued the following statement:
