Prince Andrew (Neil Hall/PA)
(Picture: PA Wire)The Duke of York’s £12 million financial settlement to his accuser Virginia Giuffre does not mean he will return to public life, senior sources said on Wednesday.
The payment ends a seven-month legal battle that has left Prince Andrew’s reputation in tatters.
“Stipulation of Dismissal” documents were filed with a New York court, with lawyers on both sides calling for the legal action to be dismissed, indicating the settlement has been paid. But palace sources say nothing had changed regarding Andrew’s public position and he will not participate publicly in events for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June.
“The position is the same as February,” one said. “There is no way back to being a senior working member of the royal family,” said another senior figure.
Andrew, 62, reached the out-of-court settlement with Ms Giuffre last month, which meant he would not face a jury trial over claims he sexually abused and raped her when she was 17.
Sources say no public money was used to settle the case. The duke has faced calls to confirm whether the Queen or Prince Charles contributed.
The Queen and Charles last month ruled that Andrew should continue with the case as a private citizen. He was then stripped of his royal patronages and told not to use his HRH title.
As part of the deal, the duke pledged to “demonstrate his regret for his association” with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He has always rejected claims of wrongdoing and, under the deal, accepted no liability.
