PRINCE Andrew could still try to settle with sex abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre if his sex abuse trial is sent to court, it has been claimed.
The Duke of York's fate hangs in the balance as a judge deliberates whether to throw out Virginia Roberts' bombshell lawsuit against him.
Andrew is said to be so desperate for the case not to go to trial that he is still considering trying to work out a massive financial settlement that could convince Virginia to drop the civil case, according to The Times.
The newspaper says it understands there have been no conversations between the sides as yet, but says the fact it is even being considered as an option suggests Andrew's team will reach out with an offer before the case comes to court.
Read our Royal Family live blog for the latest news and updates…
- John Hall
Royal round up
- Ghislaine Maxwell demands dead paedo pal Epstein cover £5million court costs after being found guilty of sex trafficking
- Ghislaine Maxwell will NOT name names or cut deal to reduce 65-year jail term for sex trafficking, her brother says
- Prince Andrew rocked by claims he could be stripped of his Duke of York title if he loses sex abuse lawsuit
- The Queen’s New Year photo convinced Prince Harry and Meghan Markle that royals were ‘against them’, royal author claims
- Meghan Markle will ‘create shockwaves’ that will ‘jangle the royal family’ in 2022 says Princess Diana’s astrologer
Will Queen's jubilee be a bank holiday?
Yes, in November 2020, Oliver Dowden announced “a four-day Bank Holiday weekend to celebrate The Queen’s 70-year reign”.
The May Bank Holiday Weekend will be moved to Thursday, June 2, 2022.
An additional Bank Holiday will take place on Friday, June 3, 2022.
It means there will be a four-day weekend to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry ‘want to sell £11m mansion after just 18 months
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry already want to sell their US home as they are not “over the moon” over the £11m lavish mansion, it is claimed.
The couple have been living in the sprawling, nine-bedroom Montecito home for around 18 months.
But a source claims Meghan and Harry are now showing interest in other houses and are open to private offers.
The insider told the Mirror: “They are thinking of selling their house there.
“However, it won’t be on the market because of who they are. It’s only being shown to people who are confirmed with funds and are serious buyers.”
- John Hall
Ghislaine Maxwell ‘to file for mistrial'
Ghislaine Maxwell is set to file for a mistrial after a jury member admitted telling the others of his own experience of abuse to sway them.
Scotty David, 35, said some jurors were struggling to believe Maxwell’s victims.
He revealed the jury room went silent when he detailed what happened to him when young, telling them — like the women in the New York case — he could remember only some of what happened.
He said: “When I shared that, they were able to come around on the memory aspect of the sexual abuse.”
Maxwell, 60 — an accomplice of late paedo Jeffrey Epstein — was later convicted and faces up to 65 years in jail.
But last night a source close to the British socialite said: “Her team will raise this with the judge. They see this as grounds for a mistrial. It’s unbelievable.”
Prospective jurors were given questionnaires which asked if they had experienced sexual abuse.
If yes, they had to say if it would affect their “ability to serve fairly and impartially”.
- John Hall
When is the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee?
Princess Elizabeth became Queen on February 6, 1952 – the day her father King George VI died.
Therefore February 6, 2022, will mark 70 years on the throne.
However, the UK will celebrate Her Majesty’s 70th anniversary as monarch with a blockbuster weekend of celebrations in June 2022.
It is the first time any British monarch has reached this historic milestone.
- John Hall
Settlement would mean he would avoid court
A settlement would mean Prince Andrew – and potentially other close members of the Firm – would avoid a court appearance.
But it wouldn't go far in helping to clear his name following the duke's disastrous Newsnight interview in 2019.
Andrew's sex trafficker pal Ghislaine Maxwell was last week found guilty of helping to entice vulnerable teens to ex-lover Epstein's properties for him to sexually abuse between 1994 and 2004.
She could spend the rest of her life in prison after being convicted of five out of six counts of sex trafficking for vile Epstein’s paedophile ring.
She is now set to file for a mistrial after a jury member admitted telling the others of his own experience of abuse to sway them.
- John Hall
Virginia Roberts Giuffre claims
Virginia Roberts Giuffre claims she was forced to have sex with Andrew three times between 1999 and 2002 — in London, New York and on Epstein’s private Caribbean island.
Ms Giuffre, now 38, has filed a battery and infliction of emotional distress lawsuit against Andrew.
No discussions about whether to settle her case out of court have been had between Andrew and his team so far, it is understood.
Andrew has always strongly denied all allegations made against him.
- John Hall
Andrew ‘could settle Virginia Roberts sex case out of court if it goes to trial’
PRINCE Andrew could settle the Virginia Roberts sex assault lawsuit out of court if it goes to trial, insiders have claimed.
The Duke of York's lawyers are keeping the settlement option "on the table" due to the negative impact a court case could have on other senior royals – including the 95-year-old Queen.
Andrew's team have not discussed the possibility of a settlement yet but haven't ruled it out as an option, it is understood.
Almost all US civil cases are settled out of court – usually with a substantial fee.
It comes as the Duke's team wait for a judge to decide whether Ms Roberts' civil lawsuit should be dropped altogether.
They claim a secret 2009 deal she made with billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein exempts Andrew from legal action.
But Judge Lewis Kaplan is unlikely to accept the pending motion, meaning lawyers will have to decide whether to settle or risk a gruelling grilling from lawyers in court.
- John Hall
Meghan Markle will get just £1 in damages from Mail on Sunday
Meghan, 40, agreed to accept nominal damages from the Mail on Sunday.
Last month, the newspaper was ruled to have invaded her privacy by publishing a 2018 letter the duchess sent to her dad Thomas Markle.
Associated Newspapers will also pay a sum for infringing copyright and a large part of Meghan’s £1.5million costs.
In March, the High Court ruled in her favour after she sued.
The Court of Appeal then rejected a bid by Associated to have the verdict overturned.
- John Hall
Prince Andrew faces mounting pressure
The royal faces mounting pressure to drop the Duke of York from his name after being accused of sexually assaulting Virginia Giuffre three times when she was 17.
One royal expert has said it is “highly improbable” Andrew would ever lose his official title – as the case would need to pass through parliament first.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told The Sun Online: “If he’s going to step down from all royal links permanently, as Meghan and Harry have, then you look at the situation where they kept the HRH and didn’t use it.
“They’ve set the precedent in that sense.
“That may apply if he were to lose this case or were to be perceived to lose this case.”
Andrew has fiercely denied the allegations against him and says he has no memory of even meeting alleged victim Virginia Roberts Giuffre.
- John Hall
Prince Charles message praising sons
In a letter, Prince Charles mentioned Harry and Prince William that he wrote to urge older generations to take meaningful action to tackle the climate crisis.
Writing for Newsweek, he said: “As a father, I am proud that my sons have recognised this threat.
“Most recently, my elder son, William, launched the prestigious Earthshot Prize to incentivise change and help repair our planet over the next ten years by identifying and investing in the technologies that can make a difference.
“And my younger son, Harry, has passionately highlighted the impact of climate change, especially in relation to Africa, and committed his charity to being net zero.”
- John Hall
Camilla to edit Country Life
The Duchess of Cornwall will be acting as guest editor of Country Life magazine later this year, and is expected to highlight the grittier side of rural life.
She will act as guest editor in July, in honour of her 75th birthday, where according to Country Life the special edition will “reflect the duchess’s love of horses and dogs”.
Speaking about the project, a royal source has said that Camilla should focus on more controversial issues, particularly those faced by women.
They told The Telegraph: “She loves the country life, but it won’t be just horses and dogs and lovely countryside.
“There is that slightly confronting side of the difficult issues the countryside faces. She wants to have a bit more about the challenges facing people, particularly for women.”
- John Hall
Five witnesses including Andrew’s FAMILY who could be called in
PRINCE Andrew’s own family could be called as witnesses in the rape lawsuit against him in a bid to blow apart the royal’s Pizza Express alibi.
Legal experts said Andrew’s hopes of having the lawsuit dismissed were on the ropes last night after Judge Lewis Kaplan ripped apart his lawyers’ case.
Yet Judge Kaplan appeared mostly dismissive of this argument.
If the case goes ahead, here are five witnesses – including members of Andrew’s own family – who could be called to give evidence.
- Princess Beatrice
- Meghan Markle
- Princess Eugenie
- Sarah Ferguson
- Anonymous nightclub witness
Read the article in full here.
- Louis Allwood
Royal with most expensive dress of 2021
One Royal had a very impressive outfit design that was the most expensive piece worn in 2021.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were pictured at the Intrepid Museum for the Salute to Freedom Gala in New York City back in November 2021.
The Duchess of Sussex wore a long red satin gown by Venezuelan fashion designer Carolina Herrera and matching heels.
The impressive red dress has been named the most expensive piece worn by a royal that year, and set her back about of $5,990 – about £4,444.
This makes it the most expensive dress that a royal premiered in 2021.
- Louis Allwood
Andrew’s attorney’s argument
Prince Andrew’s attorney, Andrew Brettler, yesterday argued that:
- PRINCE Andrew was covered by the “other potential defendants” clause in the settlement;
- GIUFFRE’S lawsuit against lawyer Alan Dershowitz was dismissed when the agreement was produced;
- HER claims were too “vague”, adding: “She doesn’t allege what this abuse was”. He called the way she filed them “unconstitutional”;
- FORMER New York governor Andrew Cuomo acted unconstitutionally when he extended the Child Victims Act deadline to August 2020. It allowed Ms Giuffre to file her lawsuit. Otherwise, her claims would have fallen outside New York’s statute of limitations.
- Louis Allwood
‘I am haunted by photo of Prince Andrew’
VIRGINIA Roberts’ ex-boyfriend has said he is haunted by the photo that appears to show Prince Andrew with his arm around her waist.
Anthony Figueroa was dating Virginia at the time when she was groomed by Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein.
He blames the royal for the breakdown of their relationship – saying Virginia was “different” whenever she returned from the three alleged sexual encounters she had with him.
Andrew categorically denies all claims against him – and says he has no memory of meeting Virginia.
The Duke of York was pictured with Virginia on the same night he allegedly first abused her after she had been trafficked to him at Maxwell’s house in London.
However, he has offered a number of explanations over the snap – which was allegedly taken by Epstein – including that it has been doctored.
- Louis Allwood
Princess Charlotte ‘isn’t allowed’ a best friend at her school
PRINCESS Charlotte is now in Year 2 at school – but she isn't allowed to have a best friend there, it has been claimed.
The young royal started Thomas’s Battersea in 2019 and was dropped off by Kate Middleton, Prince William, and big brother Prince George, who is also a pupil at the school.
Speaking on Loose Women, Jane Moore shared some of her insider knowledge of the exclusive prep school – and its rules.
She said: "It's a really great little school actually for the reasons I think that it really focuses on kindness, it's a really big thing in that school and the pastoral care is amazing.
"There's a policy that if your child is having a party, unless every child in the class is invited you don’t give out the invites in class, which I think is quite a good thing as you don’t feel excluded.
"There are signs everywhere saying be kind, that’s the ethos of the school. They don’t encourage you to have best friends."
- Louis Allwood
Royal round up
- Ghislaine Maxwell demands dead paedo pal Epstein cover £5million court costs after being found guilty of sex trafficking
- Ghislaine Maxwell will NOT name names or cut deal to reduce 65-year jail term for sex trafficking, her brother says
- Prince Andrew rocked by claims he could be stripped of his Duke of York title if he loses sex abuse lawsuit
- The Queen’s New Year photo convinced Prince Harry and Meghan Markle that royals were ‘against them’, royal author claims
- Meghan Markle will ‘create shockwaves’ that will ‘jangle the royal family’ in 2022 says Princess Diana’s astrologer
Will Queen's jubilee be a bank holiday?
Yes, in November 2020, Oliver Dowden announced “a four-day Bank Holiday weekend to celebrate The Queen’s 70-year reign”.
The May Bank Holiday Weekend will be moved to Thursday, June 2, 2022.
An additional Bank Holiday will take place on Friday, June 3, 2022.
It means there will be a four-day weekend to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry ‘want to sell £11m mansion after just 18 months
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry already want to sell their US home as they are not “over the moon” over the £11m lavish mansion, it is claimed.
The couple have been living in the sprawling, nine-bedroom Montecito home for around 18 months.
But a source claims Meghan and Harry are now showing interest in other houses and are open to private offers.
The insider told the Mirror: “They are thinking of selling their house there.
“However, it won’t be on the market because of who they are. It’s only being shown to people who are confirmed with funds and are serious buyers.”
Ghislaine Maxwell ‘to file for mistrial'
Ghislaine Maxwell is set to file for a mistrial after a jury member admitted telling the others of his own experience of abuse to sway them.
Scotty David, 35, said some jurors were struggling to believe Maxwell’s victims.
He revealed the jury room went silent when he detailed what happened to him when young, telling them — like the women in the New York case — he could remember only some of what happened.
He said: “When I shared that, they were able to come around on the memory aspect of the sexual abuse.”
Maxwell, 60 — an accomplice of late paedo Jeffrey Epstein — was later convicted and faces up to 65 years in jail.
But last night a source close to the British socialite said: “Her team will raise this with the judge. They see this as grounds for a mistrial. It’s unbelievable.”
Prospective jurors were given questionnaires which asked if they had experienced sexual abuse.
If yes, they had to say if it would affect their “ability to serve fairly and impartially”.
- Louis Allwood
Ghislaine Maxwell ‘to file for mistrial'
Ghislaine Maxwell is set to file for a mistrial after a jury member admitted telling the others of his own experience of abuse to sway them.
Scotty David, 35, said some jurors were struggling to believe Maxwell’s victims.
He revealed the jury room went silent when he detailed what happened to him when young, telling them — like the women in the New York case — he could remember only some of what happened.
He said: “When I shared that, they were able to come around on the memory aspect of the sexual abuse.”
Maxwell, 60 — an accomplice of late paedo Jeffrey Epstein — was later convicted and faces up to 65 years in jail.
But last night a source close to the British socialite said: “Her team will raise this with the judge. They see this as grounds for a mistrial. It’s unbelievable.”
Prospective jurors were given questionnaires which asked if they had experienced sexual abuse.
If yes, they had to say if it would affect their “ability to serve fairly and impartially”.
- Louis Allwood
Settlement would mean he would avoid court
A settlement would mean Prince Andrew – and potentially other close members of the Firm – would avoid a court appearance.
But it wouldn't go far in helping to clear his name following the duke's disastrous Newsnight interview in 2019.
Andrew's sex trafficker pal Ghislaine Maxwell was last week found guilty of helping to entice vulnerable teens to ex-lover Epstein's properties for him to sexually abuse between 1994 and 2004.
She could spend the rest of her life in prison after being convicted of five out of six counts of sex trafficking for vile Epstein’s paedophile ring.
She is now set to file for a mistrial after a jury member admitted telling the others of his own experience of abuse to sway them.
- Louis Allwood
Virginia Roberts Giuffre claims
Virginia Roberts Giuffre claims she was forced to have sex with Andrew three times between 1999 and 2002 — in London, New York and on Epstein’s private Caribbean island.
Ms Giuffre, now 38, has filed a battery and infliction of emotional distress lawsuit against Andrew.
No discussions about whether to settle her case out of court have been had between Andrew and his team so far, it is understood.
Andrew has always strongly denied all allegations made against him.
- Louis Allwood
Andrew ‘could settle Virginia Roberts sex case out of court if it goes to trial’
PRINCE Andrew could settle the Virginia Roberts sex assault lawsuit out of court if it goes to trial, insiders have claimed.
The Duke of York's lawyers are keeping the settlement option "on the table" due to the negative impact a court case could have on other senior royals – including the 95-year-old Queen.
Andrew's team have not discussed the possibility of a settlement yet but haven't ruled it out as an option, it is understood.
Almost all US civil cases are settled out of court – usually with a substantial fee.
It comes as the Duke's team wait for a judge to decide whether Ms Roberts' civil lawsuit should be dropped altogether.
They claim a secret 2009 deal she made with billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein exempts Andrew from legal action.
But Judge Lewis Kaplan is unlikely to accept the pending motion, meaning lawyers will have to decide whether to settle or risk a gruelling grilling from lawyers in court.
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