On the face of it, Judge Lewis Kaplan’s refusal to dismiss Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s civil sex assault case against the Duke of York appears a catastrophic blow to the already beleaguered prince.
Effectively defenestrated from the monarchy, the Queen’s son now potentially faces the ignominy of a warts-and-all trial that will make his car crash Newsnight interview feel like a Q&A on Mumsnet.
It is not just that the Duke’s somewhat bizarre claims about being unable to sweat and spending the night at Pizza Express in Woking rather than at Tramp nightclub in Mayfair with his alleged victim will be placed under intense scrutiny.
The discovery process, when both he and Ms Giuffre will be questioned by the other’s lawyers under oath, before the world’s media is likely to cause embarrassment not only to the royal father of two, but his family.
There has already been talk of his ex-wife, the Duchess of York, being called to give evidence, along with their eldest daughter Princess Beatrice, in a bid to corroborate his Pizza Express alibi. It is not yet known whether the Duke will have to be “deposed” or interviewed in person in New York or via video link.
