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Is Virginia Roberts Giuffre about to sue Prince Andrew?
Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who accuses Prince Andrew of having sex with her on three occasions when she was 17 years old while being trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein, may be about to sue the British royal in a New York court, according to the Mail on Sunday.
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Andrew, who denies the allegations, has also contested the authenticity of a photograph seemingly taken of him and Roberts Giuffre, his arm around her waist, with Ghislaine Maxwell. Despite saying he would co-operate with the FBI investigation into Epstein, Andrew so far reportedly has not.
Roberts Guiffre’s lawsuit could be filed this week, the Mail on Sunday reports. Her lawyer David Boies said the “multi-million pound” civil action “would be based on her being lent out to Prince Andrew for sex by Jeffrey Epstein and [her] being under 18,” and would include claims of “improper sexual violations, physical and emotional distress,” as well as a claim for damages. “To use a common phrase here in the United States, ‘Time’s up,’” Boies told the Mail on Sunday.
Buckingham Palace has previously said: “It is emphatically denied that The Duke of York had any form of sexual contact or relationship with Virginia Roberts. Any claim to the contrary is false and without foundation.”
While Andrew has so far reportedly not co-operated with American investigators, a court case could mean that lawyers seek to ask him questions under oath, and he may be forced to hand over personal materials like texts and emails, the Mail on Sunday says.
A source told the Mail on Sunday a possible lawsuit “could be devastating for Andrew,” both if he chooses to fight it and gives evidence, or if “he ignores it, he could be found guilty in absentia which would be a public relations disaster.” Roberts Giuffre has until next weekend to decide whether to file the suit. Both she and a spokesperson for Prince Andrew declined to comment to the Mail on Sunday.
Fergie: Andrew has found Epstein scandal “very challenging”
Sarah, Duchess of York, is once again speaking up for her ex-husband. In yet another interview—this time over lunch with the FT—to publicize her Mills and Boon novel, Her Heart for a Compass, the Duchess says the Jeffrey Epstein scandal has been “very challenging” for Prince Andrew.
“None of my life is duty,” Fergie told the FT. “It’s because I feel it. I want him to come through this. I want him to win.”
The interviewer asked Fergie if she believes Andrew’s assertions that he saw nothing untoward when spending time with Epstein. “One hundred per cent…No question. I know everything about him. I think he is an extraordinary person. And then you could come with, why aren’t you remarried? Because we don’t believe—we support each other like pillars of strengths with the honor and integrity of truth. He was so good to me when I went through absolute, abject hell.”
She’s referring to the 2010 tabloid scandal when Fergie was exposed in a sting selling access to her husband. “He unquestionably stood by me. It’s not a tit-for-tat. It’s just, I know who he is.”
Fergie said she and Andrew have their own rooms, and live on different sides of Royal Lodge in Windsor, and described herself as a “guest” in that property—“I have my rooms. He’s that side, and I’m this side”—and confessed when it comes to cooking she “can’t, shan’t, won’t.”
Asked about what she imagined for their two daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, the duchess said: “Nobody has a normal life... what is normal? After the pandemic, what is normal? Social media’s ramping out of control. Trolling’s terrible. The cancel culture is huge. The cancel culture is a major problem. So what is normal? The way I look at normal for my girls and for me is to keep researching and looking at who you are. If you love what you’re doing, then do it. If you don’t, then change it.”
Eugenie may help Harry with memoir: report
The Sun reports that Princess Eugenie, Prince Andrew and Duchess Sarah’s younger daughter and Harry’s close compadre since childhood, may help the writer J.R. Moehringer, who is helping Harry write his memoir, with his research, and putting him in touch with those in royal circles.
An insider told the paper: “I could only imagine Eugenie talking or being approached as she is someone Harry is still in regular contact with.” Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank—the recent subject of a flurry of tabloid interest after some pictures were taken of him with three women in a boat off Capri—live in the Sussexes’ former home, Frogmore Cottage.
William and Kate’s staycation
No exclusive sun-tanning on Mustique for Prince William and Kate Middleton this year. In keeping with many British politicians who have gone on vacation this summer with one eye on the careful PR of not going abroad because of the COVID travel restrictions affecting Brits generally, Hello! reports that William, Kate, and their kids have gone to their favorite close-to-home bolthole of the beautiful Isles of Scilly, off the coast of Cornwall. As Hello reports, they also went there in 2020, photographed cycling on Tresco.
Charlotte plus butterfly
William and Kate released a new picture of Princess Charlotte on Instagram on Saturday. To encourage people to take part in the Big Butterfly Count, William and Kate photographed Charlotte delicately holding a Red Admiral butterfly in her hands.
William and Kate wrote: “We wanted to share these beautiful Peacock and Red Admiral butterflies as part of Big Butterfly Count initiative taking place across the UK. @savebutterflies are encouraging us all to count these incredible creatures because not only are they beautiful creatures to be around but they are also extremely important. Butterflies are vital parts of the ecosystem as both pollinators and components of the food chain.”
This week in royal history
Happy 33rd birthday today to Princess Beatrice, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson’s elder daughter. Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are expecting their first child this autumn.
Unanswered questions
Will Virginia Roberts Giuffre sue Prince Andrew in New York? How will Andrew and the palace respond if she does?
