Prince Andrew wants to be ambassador for victims and vows to 'fight against evils of sex trafficking'

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By Nika Shakhnazarova

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Prince Andrew has pledged to "fight against the evils of sex trafficking".

The Duke of York this week settled a civil sexual assault case brought against him in the US by Virginia Giuffre Roberts, BBC News reports.

Giuffre, nee Roberts, 38, claimed that she was sexually assaulted by the Queen's second son three times: once in New York City, once in London at Maxwell's home, and once on Epstein's private island, known as Little St. James, in the US Virgin Islands.

The 38-year-old filed a lawsuit in New York back in August. Prince Andrew denied all allegations against him.

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Credit: MediaPunch Inc / Alamy

Court documents, filed in Manhattan on Tuesday, February 15, reveal that an out-of-court settlement had been agreed upon by both parties.

The Duke of York will now pay an undisclosed amount to Giuffre and make a donation to a charity "in support of victims' rights" in exchange for the case no longer proceeding to trial.

Sex abuse charities and campaigners have reacted with anger after Prince Andrew's commitment to the campaign against "the evils of sex trafficking" and pledge to support its victims.

In a statement following the news of a settlement between Andrew and his accuser, the royal said he would demonstrate his "regret" for his ties with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein by supporting the "fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims."

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Credit: Tribune Content Agency LLC / Alamy

In a joint statement confirming the settlement, the prince said he regretted his association with late pedophile Epstein and "commends the bravery" of Giuffre and other survivors of abuse.

Prince Andrew said he also accepted that Giuffre is "an established victim of abuse" and that she had been subjected to "unfair public attacks".

"The parties will file a stipulated dismissal upon Ms Giuffre's receipt of the settlement (the sum of which is not being disclosed)," the statement reads.

"Prince Andrew intends to make a substantial donation to Ms Giuffre's charity in support of victims' rights."

wp-image-1263127390
Credit: Alamy / Ian Hinchliffe

The statement adds: "Prince Andrew has never intended to malign Ms Giuffre's character, and he accepts that she has suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks.

"It is known that Jeffrey Epstein trafficked countless young girls over many years. Prince Andrew regrets his association with Epstein, and commends the bravery of Ms Giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others."

"He pledges to demonstrate his regret for his association with Epstein by supporting the fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims," the statement concluded.

The news comes as the Duke of York has returned his Royal patronages and military honors to the Queen. "The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen," a statement from Buckingham Palace read.

Featured image credit: Ian Hinchliffe / Alamy

Prince Andrew wants to be ambassador for victims and vows to 'fight against evils of sex trafficking'

vt-author-image

By Nika Shakhnazarova

Article saved!Article saved!

Prince Andrew has pledged to "fight against the evils of sex trafficking".

The Duke of York this week settled a civil sexual assault case brought against him in the US by Virginia Giuffre Roberts, BBC News reports.

Giuffre, nee Roberts, 38, claimed that she was sexually assaulted by the Queen's second son three times: once in New York City, once in London at Maxwell's home, and once on Epstein's private island, known as Little St. James, in the US Virgin Islands.

The 38-year-old filed a lawsuit in New York back in August. Prince Andrew denied all allegations against him.

 wp-image-1263129181
Credit: MediaPunch Inc / Alamy

Court documents, filed in Manhattan on Tuesday, February 15, reveal that an out-of-court settlement had been agreed upon by both parties.

The Duke of York will now pay an undisclosed amount to Giuffre and make a donation to a charity "in support of victims' rights" in exchange for the case no longer proceeding to trial.

Sex abuse charities and campaigners have reacted with anger after Prince Andrew's commitment to the campaign against "the evils of sex trafficking" and pledge to support its victims.

In a statement following the news of a settlement between Andrew and his accuser, the royal said he would demonstrate his "regret" for his ties with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein by supporting the "fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims."

 wp-image-1263141176
Credit: Tribune Content Agency LLC / Alamy

In a joint statement confirming the settlement, the prince said he regretted his association with late pedophile Epstein and "commends the bravery" of Giuffre and other survivors of abuse.

Prince Andrew said he also accepted that Giuffre is "an established victim of abuse" and that she had been subjected to "unfair public attacks".

"The parties will file a stipulated dismissal upon Ms Giuffre's receipt of the settlement (the sum of which is not being disclosed)," the statement reads.

"Prince Andrew intends to make a substantial donation to Ms Giuffre's charity in support of victims' rights."

wp-image-1263127390
Credit: Alamy / Ian Hinchliffe

The statement adds: "Prince Andrew has never intended to malign Ms Giuffre's character, and he accepts that she has suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks.

"It is known that Jeffrey Epstein trafficked countless young girls over many years. Prince Andrew regrets his association with Epstein, and commends the bravery of Ms Giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others."

"He pledges to demonstrate his regret for his association with Epstein by supporting the fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims," the statement concluded.

The news comes as the Duke of York has returned his Royal patronages and military honors to the Queen. "The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen," a statement from Buckingham Palace read.

Featured image credit: Ian Hinchliffe / Alamy