Prince Andrew and the Epstein Case: Lawsuit, Settlement & Facts

Overview

Prince Andrew, Duke of York, has been publicly linked to Jeffrey Epstein since at least the early 2000s, according to contemporaneous media reports and photographs. He was photographed with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell on multiple occasions. The connection became the subject of intense public scrutiny and legal action.

Prince Andrew has consistently denied all allegations of wrongdoing. He has not been criminally charged in connection with the Epstein case. For broader context on the Epstein case documents, see The Epstein Files.

Documented Association

Prince Andrew and Epstein were known associates from approximately 1999 onwards, according to media reports. Their relationship was reportedly facilitated by Ghislaine Maxwell, who was a known figure in British social circles, according to the BBC.

According to media reporting, Prince Andrew was photographed staying at Epstein's New York residence in 2010 — after Epstein's 2008 conviction on state charges in Florida. This visit drew particular criticism because it occurred after Epstein was a registered sex offender, as reported by the BBC.

The BBC Interview (November 2019)

In November 2019, Prince Andrew gave a widely viewed interview to the BBC's Emily Maitlis in which he discussed his relationship with Epstein, according to the BBC transcript. In the interview:

• He stated that he had no recollection of meeting Virginia Giuffre
• He denied allegations of sexual contact with her
• He described his visit to Epstein's New York home in 2010 as an attempt to end their friendship in person
• He expressed regret over the association with Epstein

The interview was broadly characterized by media commentators as damaging to his public reputation, according to reporting by the BBC, Reuters, and the Associated Press.

Civil Lawsuit: Giuffre v. Prince Andrew

In August 2021, Virginia Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit against Prince Andrew in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (Case No. 21-cv-6702), according to court records. The lawsuit alleged that Prince Andrew had sexually abused Giuffre on multiple occasions when she was under 18 years of age.

According to court filings:

• Prince Andrew's legal team challenged the jurisdiction and validity of the lawsuit
• A federal judge denied Prince Andrew's motion to dismiss in January 2022
• The case proceeded toward discovery before being settled

The Settlement

In February 2022, the case was settled out of court, according to the BBC and court filings. Key aspects of the settlement, as publicly reported:

• Prince Andrew made no admission of guilt or liability
• The settlement was reported to involve a payment of approximately $12 million, according to media sources, though the exact figure has not been officially confirmed
• Part of the settlement included a donation to Giuffre's charity supporting victims' rights advocacy
• Prince Andrew expressed "regret for his association with Epstein" as part of the settlement statement, according to court records

Consequences

Following the public scrutiny, according to verified reporting by Reuters and the BBC:

• Prince Andrew stepped back from royal duties in November 2019, shortly after the BBC interview
• He was stripped of his honorary military titles and royal patronages in January 2022
• He is no longer referred to by the style "His Royal Highness" in an official capacity
• He has largely withdrawn from public life

What We Know

Based on court records, the settlement filing, and verified reporting:

• Prince Andrew and Epstein were associates over a period of years, according to contemporaneous documentation
• Prince Andrew visited Epstein after his 2008 conviction, according to photographic evidence and media reporting
• Virginia Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit making specific allegations against Prince Andrew
• The case was settled with no admission of guilt, according to court records
• Prince Andrew stepped back from public royal duties and lost military titles

What We Don't Know

• The full extent and nature of Prince Andrew's relationship with Epstein over the years
• The precise terms of the settlement beyond what has been publicly reported
• Whether any criminal investigation into Prince Andrew was conducted or considered by U.S. or UK authorities
• The full scope of evidence gathered during the civil litigation's discovery phase

Context

Prince Andrew's name also appears in documents from the broader Giuffre v. Maxwell case. For information on what it means to be named in Epstein-related documents, see our page on the Epstein list. For information about Epstein's properties mentioned in various allegations, see Epstein Island.

Primary Sources

1. Giuffre v. Prince Andrew, Case No. 21-cv-6702, SDNY — CourtListener
2. BBC News, settlement reporting, February 2022 — bbc.com
3. BBC News, Newsnight interview transcript, November 2019 — bbc.com
4. Reuters, military titles reporting — reuters.com
5. Court filings, Giuffre v. Maxwell, SDNY — CourtListener
6. Associated Press, Prince Andrew coverage — apnews.com

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Explore the full case timeline, read our analysis of the Prince Andrew settlement, or browse all indexed records in our document library.