Virginia Giuffre's family issue plea for Prince Andrew to be 'fully investigated' over allegations
Virginia Giuffre accused the Duke of York of sexual assault
The family of Virginia Giuffre has called for Prince Andrew to be “fully investigated” over allegations that he sexually assaulted her, insisting that no one, regardless of status, should be above the law.
Giuffre, who took her own life in April, was one of the most outspoken victims of late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. She alleged that she was introduced to Prince Andrew in 2001 when she was just 17 and that he sexually assaulted her three times.
The Duke of York, 65, has always vehemently denied all the allegations against him.
In 2022, he reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre for an undisclosed sum, which ended a US civil case she had brought against him.
Virginia Giuffre’s family calls for Prince Andrew to be ‘fully investigated’
Speaking to the BBC, Giuffre’s brother Sky Roberts said the duke had faced some consequences over his association with disgraced Epstein, such as stepping back from royal duties in 2019, but argued that it was far from enough.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a royal family member or president, or prince. Every single person deserves to be held to the fullest extent of the law,” he said.
He added: “Of course he’s been stripped of… all of these different things and publicly shamed in certain ways, but that’s not enough. The fact that he’s still out there, that he’s still living in a palace or a castle is not enough.
“It’s time we put every single person, whether you’re a royal, Prince Andrew, you need to be fully investigated, and if it is found that you had any participation, you need to be put behind bars for the rest of your life.”
Sky, who was visibly emotional, spoke alongside his wife, Amanda Roberts. She also criticised the lack of outreach from the royal family following Giuffre’s death in April.
Amanda said there was “more that’s going to come to light… every single person who knows they’ve harmed her, they have to live with that”.
Prince Andrew allegations
Prince Andrew’s fall from grace remains one of the royal family’s deepest scandals, stemming from his friendship with Epstein, Giuffre’s allegations, and a disastrous BBC Newsnight interview.
Andrew met Epstein, an investment banker and financier at the time, through Ghislaine Maxwell in 1999.
The royal admitted staying at Epstein’s residences, calling them “a convenient place to stay”. However, he insisted he never witnessed or suspected any wrongdoing during the “limited time” he spent with him.
The controversy intensified when a photo emerged, appearing to show Andrew with Giuffre. She claimed that she was forced to sleep with him on three occasions when she was 17.
The Duke of York denied ever meeting her. He suggested the photo was fake, and told the BBC in 2019: “Nobody can prove whether or not that photograph has been doctored, but I don’t recollect that photograph ever being taken.”
Prince Andrew’s November 2019 Newsnight interview only deepened the crisis.
He denied being at Tramp nightclub with Giuffre, saying he was at home with his daughter. The interview was branded a “car crash” in the media and within days, Andrew stepped back from his royal duties.
In a statement, the prince said: “I continue to unequivocally regret my ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein. His suicide has left many unanswered questions, particularly for his victims, and I deeply sympathise with everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure.”
Royal Insider has contacted reps for Buckingham Palace for comment.
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