One day after a Manhattan judge ruled that the lawsuit filed against Prince Andrew can move forward, Buckingham Palace announced that the Duke of York has been stripped of his military titles and patronages and will be facing the trial as a "private citizen." The New York Post reported that Judge Lewis Kaplan "denied in all respects" the attempts that Andrew's legal team pushed to dismiss the case. Kaplan's decision noted that a $500,000 settlement that Virginia Roberts Giuffre received from Jeffrey Epstein was too "ambiguous" to cover Andrew, as well. Prince Andrew continues to deny the allegations against him.
"With the Queen's approval and agreement, The Duke of York's military affiliations and royal patronage have been returned to The Queen," the Palace said in a statement, according to The Independent. "The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending the case as a private citizen."
The civil case will move to its discovery phase and Andrew may be called into a deposition under oath.
Members of Parliament told The Independent that the decision smears the celebratory mood that comes with the queen's platinum jubilee year and all the festivities that the royal family had planned.
Labour MP Diane Abbott called the situation "sad," saying, "This is really quite sad for the queen in her platinum jubilee year. I wouldn't want to say more than that. We will only know when the court case is completed. But it is a horrible thing to happen in the queen's jubilee year."
Giuffre's civil case alleges that she was forced to have sex with Epstein's friends, including Prince Andrew, when she was 17.
"Virginia Giuffre is, of course, pleased that Prince Andrew's motion to dismiss has been denied, and that evidence will now be taken concerning her claims against him," Giuffre's attorney, David Boise, said in a statement. "She looks forward to a judicial determination of the merits of those claims."
If you have experienced sexual violence and are in need of crisis support, please call the RAINN Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
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