Virginia Giuffre’s family has issued a statement after it was announced this evening that Prince Andrew will no longer be permitted to use his royal title.
Buckingham Palace issued a statement confirming King Charles has decided to strip his younger brother of his title, and that he will be ousted from Royal Lodge.
In a statement, the late Mrs Giuffre’s family said: “Today, an ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family, brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage.”
Her brother, Skye Roberts, and sister-in-law, Amanda, added: “Virginia Roberts Giuffre, our sister, a child when she was sexually assaulted by Andrew, never stopped fighting for accountability for what had happened to her and to countless other survivors like her.
“Today, she declares victory. We, her family, along with her survivor sisters, continue Virginia’s battle and will not rest until the same accountability applies to all of the abusers and abettors connected to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.”
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, as he is now known, has always denied wrongdoing.
Earlier this evening, Buckingham Palace issued the following statement: “His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew.
“Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence.
“Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation. These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.
“Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”
Mrs Giuffre accused Andrew of sexually abusing her when she was 17.
She alleged that she was trafficked to him by financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell in the early 2000s.
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Andrew has consistently denied all allegations, saying he never met Mrs Giuffre and that the events she described “never happened.”
In 2021, Mrs Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit against him in the United States, claiming sexual assault and battery.
In early 2022, before the case went to trial, Andrew reached an out-of-court settlement with Mrs Giuffre for an undisclosed sum.
He did not admit liability as part of the agreement, but he did agree to make a “substantial donation” to Mrs Giuffre’s charity supporting victims of abuse.
Following the case, Andrew was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages.
He had already stepped back from royal duties in 2019.
Earlier this year, it was confirmed that Mrs Giuffre had taken her own life.
Her memoir, Nobody’s Girl, was posthumously released earlier this month.