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Prince Andrew, 61, has been embroiled in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal for years as the duke came under fire for his association with the convicted sex offender. The duke has also repeatedly faced accusations that he has sex with Giuffre, 38, but royalty has categorically denied his claims. Now, the woman has filed a civil lawsuit in New York alleging that Prince Andrew abused her three times in 2001.
She is suing Prince Andrew under the Child Victims Act, which expanded victims’ rights to sue alleged abusers, and is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
Speaking about the lawsuit, he said: “I am holding Prince Andrew responsible for what he did to me.”
The lawsuit alleges that the prince abused Ms. Giuffre on three occasions when he was under the age of 18, nearly two decades ago.
She claims that she was forced to have sex with Andrew against her will at the London home of Ghislaine Maxwell.
Prince Andrew faces legal proceedings in the US as Virginia Giuffre files a lawsuit against him (Image:.)
Prince Andrew is the queen’s second eldest son (Image:.)
The lawsuit alleges that the duke abused Ms. Giuffre on two other occasions, at Epstein’s New York mansion and on a private island he owned.
Official court documents say that Ms Giuffre “was initially hired to provide massages, and subsequently to engage in a variety of sexual acts, for Epstein.”
The documents say she was later “regularly abused by Epstein” and “loaned” by him to “other powerful men for sexual purposes.”
It alleges: “One of those powerful men to whom the applicant (Ms Giuffre) was loaned for sexual purposes was the defendant, Prince Andrew, Duke of York.”
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Virginia Giuffre sues Prince Andrew under the Child Victims Act (Image:.)
A source told Mail Online that the lawsuit could be “devastating” for the Duke.
They stated: ‘This could be devastating for Andrew.
If he chooses to fight him and is deposed [forced to give evidence], then those statements could end up being made public.
“If you ignore it, you could be found guilty in absentia, which would be a public relations disaster.”
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Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell photographed in 2005 (Image:.)
Prince Andrew has repeatedly denied having any relationship with Ms Giuffre.
In her infamous BBC Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis, she said: “It didn’t happen.
“I can tell you absolutely categorically that it never happened.
“I don’t remember ever meeting this lady, none at all.”
Prince Andrew has denied all the allegations (Image:.)
The duke later released a statement saying he regrets his association with Epstein and sympathizes with the victims.
He said, “I continue to unequivocally regret my misjudged association with Jeffrey Epstein.
“His suicide has left many unanswered questions, particularly for his victims, and I deeply sympathize with all who have been affected and want some kind of closure.
I can only hope that, in time, they can rebuild their lives.
“Of course, I am willing to assist any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if necessary.”
British line to the throne (Image: Express)
Ms. Giuffre first made her allegations against the Duke in 2014 court documents in a case brought by Epstein’s victims against the Justice Department.
His current lawsuit comes nearly two years after Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail, just a month after he was arrested on sex trafficking charges.
Maxwell was arrested last July and pleaded not guilty to federal charges of conspiring with Epstein in the abuse of four underage girls.
She must be tried in November.
Representatives for Prince Andrew said they had no comment on the latest developments.
Express.co.uk has reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment.
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