Spared the embarrassment: Prince Andrew reached a financial settlement with Virginia Roberts Joffre, who sued him for sexual assault while she was a minor, thus eliminating the need for a jury trial that would obscure celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, mother of The Duke of York.
In an affidavit filed by both parties to Judge Lewis Kaplan in the New York District Court, they stated that they had formulated an out-of-court settlement and therefore sought to have the proceedings continued within 30 days. The amount of the settlement was not disclosed, but it was said that the British prince would make a “significant contribution to the Jupera charity to support the rights of victims of sexual assault”.
“Prince Andrew never intended to defame Joffre’s character, and he accepts the fact that she suffered as a victim of sexual abuse as a result of unfair public attacks,” the affidavit said.
The Duke of York does not admit to the accusations made by Joffre or accepts any responsibility, however he noted that he “regrets the connection” with the pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and he “praises the courage of Joffre and other survivors who have stood up for themselves and others”. In addition, “he pledges to demonstrate his sorrow for his friendship with Epstein in supporting the fight against the evil of sex trafficking and by supporting victims of sexual abuse.”
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In a lawsuit filed by Joffre six months ago, she accused her of being a victim of sex trafficking and abuse on Epstein’s side since she was 16 and that he “lent it to other powerful men for sexual purposes”, including the British prince.
She accused the prince, who met Epstein in 1999 and was a close friend of Glein Maxwell, Epstein’s right-hand man, and became a regular visitor to the businessman’s homes, of “sexually abusing the petitioner when she was a minor, at Epstein and Maxwell’s invitation.”
According to the indictment, Andrew forced Joffre to perform sexual acts on him against her will at Epstein’s home in New York and he also attacked her at Epstein’s mansion on the private island in the Virgin Islands. It was also alleged that Epstein and Maxwell forced her to have sex with the Prince in London.
“Prince Andrew committed sexual assault and beating against the petitioner when she was 17 years old,” the lawsuit states. “Because of this, Prince Andrew is responsible for the beating and deliberate exploitation of emotional distress under New York law. The damage to Petitioner is severe and permanent.”
“Twenty years ago, Prince Andrew’s wealth, power, status and connections allowed him to abuse a frightened and vulnerable girl without anyone protecting her,” the prosecution continued. “It’s time for him to give an account.”
Last month, Judge Kaplan denied Andrew’s request to dismiss the sexual claim. Due to this, the Queen took structure all the royal sponsorships and all the military affiliations, and this after he had already retired from the public positions within the Royal House in November 2019.