Prince Andrew addresses Virginia Giuffre’s allegations in 2019

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The Duke of York is being sued in New York by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who alleges that she was sexually assaulted by the Queen’s son 20 years ago when she was a teenager. Ms Giuffre claimed she was trafficked to Andrew by convicted sex-offenders Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell when she was 17 and a minor under US law. Ms Giuffre is seeking unspecified damages, but some commentators have speculated the sum could be in the millions of dollars.

Andrew has vehemently denied the claims.

On Monday, a confidential legal document between Epstein and Ms Giuffre was made public, which showed that Andrew’s accuser had agreed not to sue anyone connected to Epstein who could be described as a “potential defendant”.

The 2009 damages settlement revealed the disgraced financier paid Ms Giuffre $500,000 (£371,000) to end her claim. 

The document could have massive implications on the civil case, if Andrew’s lawyers can successfully argue that the Duke of York is included in the group of individuals Ms Giuffre is unable to make a legal claim against.

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Despite the controversy that has surrounded the Duke of York in recent years, Andrew is widely believed to be the Queen’s favourite son.

Royal commentators have long speculated as to why the pair had such a close bond.

Andrew was born in 1960, 12 years after his oldest sibling Prince Charles and 10 years after Princess Anne was born.

At the time of his birth, Her Majesty decided to take time away from her royal duties to focus on being a parent.

In turn, the Queen was able to be a more present mother for her two youngest children, Andrew and Prince Edward.

In 2020, historian Robery Lacey told Town & Country: “Evidence suggests she became warmer and more flexible as time went by.”

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams also suggested that the Queen’s change of lifestyle may have contributed to her close relationship with Andrew.

Speaking to CNN Mr Fitzwilliams said: “She was able to give him more attention and Andrew was someone with whom she’d had a particular affinity.”

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In turn, the Queen associated Andrew’s birth with the “re-booting of her marriage and a happy time in her life”, as claimed by Elinor Evans in HistoryExtra.

The monarch’s new found freedom allowed for her to pay extra attention to Andrew and Edward, occasionally even visiting them at school and attending their sports days.

According to a royal source, the Queen enjoyed the company of Andrew at the time, despite his “cheeky” and “mischievous” behaviour.

Speaking to Camilla Tominey for the Telegraph in 2020, the source said: “Edward was always much shier than Andrew.

“[Andrew] was full of life, cheeky and mischievous.

“The Queen made time for her children. She used to turn up at the school with one bodyguard and drive herself sometimes.

“She would attend sports day and various matches.”

Ms Tominey claimed that the Queen found the heir-apparent Charles “emotionally complicated. “

Meanwhile, Andrew was the more “straightforward” of the pair.

The commentator said: “Although he could be a bit of a handful, the Queen enjoyed the company of the easy-going son who could make her laugh and raise the family’s spirits.”

As an adult, however, Andrew has been marred by controversy.

His marriage and subsequent divorce to Sarah Ferguson propelled him to the front pages on a number of occasions.

Andrew stepped back from all royal duties in 2019 after a car crash interview with Newsnight in which he attempted to explain his relationship with Epstein.

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