PRINCE Andrew has settled the bombshell sex abuse lawsuit with his accuser Virginia Giuffre in a deal worth millions.
According to court documents filed in New York today, the Duke and Ms Giuffre have reached a “settlement in principle” in the civil case – avoiding a humiliating court showdown.
Ms Giuffre sued Andrew, 61, last August – alleging he sexually abused her when she was 17, and therefore a minor under US law.
Repeatedly and strongly denying all the claims against him, Andrew had seemed ready to take the case for a high profile court battle in the US.
But the pair have now reached a surprise settlement – though the size of the deal is not yet known.
Reports speculated it could be up to £14million using cash from the sale of his Swiss chalet.
Ms Giuffre had previously insisted a financial settlement alone would not be enough for her before her lawyer, David Boies, said they would look at a settlement if it was “large enough”.
He previously said: “We would be unlikely to settle in a situation in which somebody has just handed over a cheque.
“So if Prince Andrew maintains ‘I’ve never heard of this person’, ‘the photographs are fake’, I don’t think we’d settle on that basis.
“That said, if you had a settlement that was large enough to be, in effect, a vindication, then that’s something we would obviously look at.”
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And today, attorney Mr Boies said in a filing in Manhattan federal court that lawyers on both sides were informing the judge that a settlement in principle has been reached and they’ll request a dismissal of the lawsuit within a month.
Meanwhile, the letter said, the judge should suspend all deadlines and hold the action in abeyance.
Attached to the letter by Boies was a statement that read: “Virginia Giuffre and Prince Andrew have reached an out of court settlement. The parties will file a stipulated dismissal upon Ms. Giuffres receipt of the settlement (the sum of which is not being disclosed).”
Court documents show the Duke will make a “substantial donation to Ms Giuffre’s charity in support of victims’ rights”.
Andrew has also pledged to “demonstrate his regret for his association with Epstein” by supporting the “fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims.”
But other claims have been made against Andrew, including that he groped a woman on his lap as she played with a Spitting Image puppet of him.
Johanna Sjoberg alleged he grabbed her breast in 2001 at the New York home of his deceased paedo pal Jeffrey Epstein, according to court papers.
And a massage therapist who was told to treat Andrew in his bedroom claims he was her creepiest client and a “constant sex pest”.
Emma Gruenbaum, 50, says he quizzed her on her love life and tried to hug her after sessions at Royal Lodge, Windsor.
There has not, however, been any indication yet that they may take legal action.
