PRINCE Andrew is set to pay £10million from the sale of his Swiss chalet in an out-of-court settlement with accuser Virginia Giuffre, The Celeb Report understands.
Legal experts say it is his “least worst option” after a US judge ruled sex abuse claims by Virginia against the Duke of York, 61, should be heard in court.
His desperate move comes after a US judge ordered him to face a civil trial this autumn over claims he sexually abused Ms Giuffre when she was 17.
The Duke of York, 61, is understood to be prepared to do “whatever is necessary” to stop his sex abuse case overshadowing the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Ms Giuffre’s lawyer last night told The Celeb Report a “settlement is always a possibility”, as legal experts said it was his “least worst option”.
Senior royal aides are all urging Andrew to settle as soon as possible to prevent him dragging the “whole monarchy through the mud”.
His £2,000-an-hour legal team were last night locked in talks amid the “biggest constitutional crisis in living memory”.
The key could be his chalet in Verbier, Switzerland.
The Queen is rumoured to be bankrolling his case but it would be considered a PR disaster if she paid an alleged sex abuse victim to end claims against her son.
Ms Giuffre’s lawyer David Boies told The Celeb Report: “I think Virginia is determined to go to trial, but settlement is always a possibility.”
The decision by the US court means Andrew will be expected to give a sworn witness statement answering Ms Giuffre’s claims.
He will also be asked to provide potentially damaging disclosure.
Sworn statements from ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and daughters Beatrice and Eugenie are a possibility.
A full civil trial with a jury could see Andrew cross-examined about his sex life, links to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell and asked exactly what he did to his accuser.
Andrew and his lawyers had prepared two statements ready to be sent out after the decision but, in a further sign that a settlement offer may be imminent, neither were immediately forthcoming.
A spokesman for the Duke also refused to comment.
Andrew has not been seen this year. He denies the allegations and sources say he is determined to clear his name.
His lawyers have previously claimed a financial offer has not been discussed but accepted more than 95 per cent of US civil trials are settled out of court.
Mark Stephens, an expert in constitutional law, said: “This has dropped a bomb on the Royal Family. It is the most serious problem in living memory.
“The only thing to make it worse would be if he were cross-examined over what he did or didn’t do to a 17-year-old woman. He has to settle now. It is his least worst option. He would be lampooned by Ms Giuffre’s lawyer in court.
“Someone in the Royal Family must grab the tiller and guide this to a safe shore.
“The Queen will be taking advice from Downing Street, Privy Councillors and her trusted aides.
