Prince Andrew has settled out of court with a woman who accused him of sexual assault while she was under the control of international sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein, reported CNBC.
The woman, Virginia Giuffre, previously sued Prince Andrew after accusing him of sexually assaulting her when she was just 17 years old.
Giuffre said that she was dedicated to “holding Prince Andrew accountable for what he did to me.”
“The powerful and rich are not exempt from being held responsible for their actions,” Giuffre said, “I hope that other victims will see that it is possible not to live in silence and fear but to reclaim one’s life by speaking out and demanding justice.”
The settlement amount was not disclosed in the court’s filing, but it did say that the prince will make “a substantial donation to Ms. Giuffre’s charity in support of victim’s rights.”
Prince Andrew’s legal team failed multiple attempts to get the suit against him dismissed, but now that the parties have settled, a dismissal is expected to come soon from the judge presiding over the case.
Giuffre’s attorney wrote, “The parties anticipate filing a stipulation of dismissal of the case within thirty (30) days. In the interim, the parties request that the court suspend all deadlines and hold the action in abeyance.”
A document attached to the attorney’s statement stated, “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 continued, “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 Telegraph reported that the prince’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II, helped fund her son’s expensive legal fees. And the prince sold off an elaborate ski resort that he owned along with his ex-wife to help finance his defense.
After sitting for a poorly received interview with the BBC, Prince Andrew hired a high-power legal team, including Clare Montgomery, an attorney who formerly defended Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet.
Last month, Prince Andrew was stripped of his military titles and various other honorifics that distinguished him as a member of England’s royal family.
The BBC reported that the prince is no longer permitted to use or be addressed as “His Royal Highness” in an official capacity.
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