PRINCE Andrew could be forced to describe his genitals and sex life at a rape trial, a top lawyer has claimed.
Legal expert Spencer Kuvin, who is representing a victim of Jeffrey Epstein, said the Duke of York could face a deeply humiliating grilling under oath if he is deposed ahead of a civil trial for Virginia Giuffre’s sex assault case.
Mr Kuvin told the Mirror: “It is without question the Duke will be asked about his private parts.
“Nothing is off limits because if an underage girl can describe what the Duke of York’s private parts look like… how would that be if they had not had a relationship?”
Read our Royal Family live blog for the latest news and updates…
- Milica Cosic
Andrew is 'finished'
A royal expert said the Duke of York is "finished" as a working royal and will likely lose all military honours amid his ongoing court battle.
He has not attended a single military event since he stepped back from royal duties two years ago and is expected to be "invisible" during Platinum Jubilee events.
Andrew has strenuously denied all allegations.
Leading commentator Phil Dampier also told The Sun Online he may likely pay off his accuser to avoid any further embarrassment for Her Majesty.
- Milica Cosic
Royal family support for Andrew ‘thin on the ground’
THE Royal Family's support for Prince Andrew is "thin on the ground" as only immediate family members are behind the Duke, an expert claims.
Royal expert Chris Ship has suggested many members of the family have taken a step back from Andrew and revoked their moral support.
He told Good Morning Britain: "From what I hear, his immediate family – Sarah Ferguson, his two daughters – are behind him.
"But other members of the Royal family very much are not and are wanting to try and end this in whatever way they can in terms of the damage for the wider institution.
"The support he has amongst the wider family is very, very thin on the ground indeed," he said.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the claims.
- Milica Cosic
You can stay in Buckingham Palace on Airbnb
Buckingham Palace could go on the rental market at £500,000 a night, according to a new study which reveals how much it would cost to rent each of the royal residences on Airbnb.
It would cost as much to rent Buckingham Palace for a single night as it would to buy two average UK homes outright.
Research conduced by online maths calculator GFC analysed the overall value of every property owned by the Royal Family to discover how much each royal home could fetch on the rental market.
- Buckingham Palace would cost a whopping £500,000 a night on Airbnb, and it would take the average Brit over 400 YEARS to save enough for one night of rent
- Windsor Castle is the second most expensive royal residence to rent, costing £350,000 a night on Airbnb
- Prince William and Kate Middleton’s home in Kensington Palace would cost £53,000 a night to rent, whereas Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s mansion in California is a more modest £3,600 a night
- Milica Cosic
Royal news you may have missed
- Meghan had Idris Elba play "bare tunes" like Whitney Houston at her royal wedding.
- And this is the Queen's favourite fast food.
- Plus a Bake Off winner has revealed how to make the perfect pudding for the Queen's Jubilee.
The Queen's strict bedtime routine
According to experts at Eachnight.com, the monarch may actually owe her long life to her active lifestyle and sleep hygiene.
But exactly what is Her Majesty’s bedtime routine and what makes her such a successful sleeper?
- A very fancy nightcap
- Separate bedrooms
- Set bedtime
- Sleep inducing meals
Read the article in full here.
Andrew 'finished as a working royal'
The case is the most significant legal action against a member of the Royal Family in recent memory – and comes after years of allegations against the Duke.
Leading commentator Phil Dampier told The Sun Online: "I think he is finished as a working royal.
"It was suggested he would try and get back this year for the 40th anniversary of the Falklands events but that's non starter for him the way this is going.
"It wouldn't surprise me in time if he loses his military patronages. "
Explained: What we know about Prince Andrew's case
- The royal faces a number of bombshell claims from his accuser Virginia Roberts
- She alleges she was forced to have sex with him three times after being trafficked by Epstein and Maxwell
- He strongly denies any wrongdoing and even says they couple have never met
- Andrew brushed off her description of an encounter by saying he could not sweat
- Experts have said Andrew could try to settle out of court & may lose his royal titles
Prince Andrew trial will cause ‘massive embarrassment’ for Queen
Leading commentator Phil Dampier told The Sun Online he believes the Duke of York will try stop the case with an out-of-court settlement to spare his 95-year-old mum.
The author added he believes Andrew – often described as The Queen's favourite son – is "finished" and will likely be stripped of his military patronages.
Mr Dampier told The Sun Online: "This is very bad news for him – it means he will probably have to settle outside court as 97 per cent of civil cases in America do.
"There is always the danger that if he pays Virginia Roberts off, that someone else might emerge and make a similar claim but that could be a risk he has to take."
He went on: "I can't see now any other way out of this without causing massive embarrassment to the Royal Family and to The Queen in her Platinum Jubilee [year].
"Which is something they will want to avoid. I don't think they will say anything publicly – I think it will all be dealt with privately but I would have thought his lawyers seem to have made mutterings that an out of court settlement might be their only way forward.
"And I think that's pretty much his only option now – he could fight it in court but obviously he‘s got to take the risk that it could cost him even more if he loses."
More about Prince Harry's book
It is feared the release of the book threatens to overshadow Her Majesty's Jubilee celebrations – even though he and Meghan could return to the UK to join in the fun.
Harry has been writing the book with ghostwriter J.R. Moehringer – who has also written memoirs for Andre Agassi and Nike co-founder Phil Knight.
He said he will be donating his profits from the book to charity.
An audiobook version will also be released.
- Milica Cosic
Charles' offering of a 'olive branch' to Harry
The future king offered his son an "olive branch" by paying tribute to Harry in a Newsweek essay praising his environmental work.
Charles told how "proud" he is of the duke for "passionately highlighting the impact of climate change".
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told the Sun Online he believes the Prince of Wales' public display of affection was done "in the hope that there will be a form of reconciliation."
The two were said to have "barely spoken" over the last year as their relations hit an "all time low".
Harry’s personal attacks against his father since Megxit have forced them apart and left Charles “deeply shocked and hurt”, sources say.
The Duke of Sussex said he would reveal "the highs and lows, the mistakes and lessons learned" in his statement confirming the book.
- Milica Cosic
Prince Harry ‘could release most shocking claim yet’
A royal expert has claimed that Prince Harry could release the "most shocking claims yet" in his bombshell book ahead of its launch.
He is expected to hash out the reasons he left the Firm behind, name and shame the "royal racist" and delve into Princess Diana's life and divorce.
But an expert claimed it is set to contain "juicy details" on the fallout with the Royals after the 37-year-old received a £15million advance from publishers.
Royal expert Katie Nicholl believes he and wife Meghan will "drip-feed teasers" to the public to gear them up for a dramatic read.
She told Closer magazine: "The book will no doubt be full of more intimate and shocking revelations – Harry wouldn’t have got a multi-million-pound advance without promising some juicy details.
"And in the build-up to that, I imagine Harry and Meghan will have a carefully thought out publicity drive, which will see them drip-feed teasers in the months building up to the release," she said.
"There’ll be more shocking claims to come, perhaps their biggest yet!
"I’m sure the Queen has a lot of anxiety over that and the royals will be braced for more bombshells."
- Milica Cosic
Nightclub witness 'to be used' in Andrew's court case
A woman who claimed she saw Andrew dancing with Virginia at Tramp nightclub in London could be called to give evidence.
US lawyer Lisa Bloom – who represents several victims of Epstein – said a woman from London approached her with the claims.
Ms Bloom previously told The Sun: “She says that in 2001 she was at the Tramp nightclub and recalls seeing Prince Andrew.
"It was pointed out to her by a member of her group.
“The woman remembers it vividly. She had never seen a royal before or since. It was a very big moment for her — she stared at him.
“She says he was with Virginia — who looked very young and not happy — but Andrew was smiling and seemed to be very much enjoying himself on the dancefloor."
The duke has denied he was with Virginia at the club – insisting to Newsnight he was at Pizza Express instead.
- Milica Cosic
Andrew & Virginia's photo together
PRINCE Andrew could face five bombshell claims during his court battle with his rape accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre – with one of the claims being a photo of him and Virginia together.
Despite Andrew insisting he has never met his accuser, a photo appears to show them together.
Taken in 2001 when Virginia was 17, the picture appears to show the Duke alongside her, with Maxwell standing to the side.
It was allegedly snapped at Maxwell's townhouse in London.
The three are smiling in the picture, with Andrew's arm around Virginia's waist – with the photo allegedly taken by Epstein.
But in his Newsnight interview, Andrew claimed the photo could have been doctored as he doubled down on claims he never met Virginia.
He claimed he has no memory of going upstairs in Maxwell's house and said the clothes he was wearing in the picture are his "travelling clothes".
Andrew also said he has never seen Epstein with a camera and dismissed the image as a "photograph of a photograph of a photograph”.
The infamous photo of Andrew, Virginia and Maxwell could come up in the court battle Credit: Nicholas Razzell - Milica Cosic
Five bombshell claims Prince Andrew could face
Andrew strongly denies all allegations against him – and claims he has no memory of even meeting Virginia.
But here are five bombshell claims that the Duke could face in court.
- Nightclub witness
- 'Sex' in the bathroom
- Photo of Andrew and Virginia together
- 'Grope' claim
- Epstein's handyman saw 'kiss'
Read the article in full here.
- Milica Cosic
'Virginia pleased her claims will now be determined judicially'
David Boies, Virginia Giuffre's lawyer, has said that: “Virginia is very pleased that her claims will now be determined judicially.
“It’s been a long road but we’re nearing the end. We will seek to depose between ten to 12 people.”
Asked if they would include Sarah, Beatrice and Eugenie, Mr Boies said: “That’s possible.”
He expects Andrew’s deposition to take place in February.
Virginia Giuffre with her lawyer David Boies in 2019Credit: Reuters
- Milica Cosic
Virginia Giuffre's 'settlement is always a possibility'
Ms Giuffre’s lawyer David Boies last night told The Sun 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”.
Ms Giuffre, 38, is suing Andrew for unspecified damages, which Mr Kuvin said could “easily” be in excess of £14million if she is successful.
Ms Giuffre says paedo Epstein, who died in jail in 2019, trafficked her for sex with powerful men.
She claims she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew in 2001 when she was 17.
Ms Giuffre also says she was flown to London to sleep with the Duke and forced to have sex with him at Epstein’s home in New York and in the US Virgin Islands.
- Milica Cosic
Andrew ‘to be asked about his PRIVATE PARTS’
PRINCE Andrew could be “asked about his private parts,” the lawyer representing Jeffrey Epstein’s victim has claimed.
No date has been set for the trial but it could take sometime between September and December this year.
Mr Kuvin added: “It is without question the Duke will be asked about his private parts.
“Nothing is off limits because if an underage girl can describe what the Duke of York’s private parts look like… how would that be if they had not had a relationship?”
The Duke of York is understood to be prepared to do “whatever is necessary” to stop his sex abuse case overshadowing the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
He denies the allegations and sources say he is determined to clear his name.
Read the article in full here.
- Milica Cosic
Three choices Prince Andrew faces (Continued…)
3. Walk away from case
REFUSE to engage in the case against him. His accuser would be almost certain to win a judgment by default and damages and costs stretching into millions.
The reputational cost would be far worse to Andrew — as well as provoking the fury of the UK’s most powerful ally.
Andrew is still the subject of a US “mutual legal assistance” request to the UK — filed when it sought to question him in its Epstein probe.
It has been gathering dust but Andrew could now put the Home Office in a tricky position.
- Milica Cosic
Three choices Prince Andrew faces
1. Face accuser in court
FACE Virginia Giuffre in court, “tough it out” and fight to clear his name.
But experts say that strategy is extremely high-risk, pitting a senior royal against a victim of alleged sex abuse in the US court system.Even if Andrew was determined to challenge Ms Giuffre’s claims — which he firmly denies — the reputational damage could still be immense.
He would very likely be cross-examined via video-link about some extremely personal matters — including his sexual tastes.
2.Offer a cash settlement
SETTLE and offer Virginia Giuffre a lot of money to walk away.
Paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was a close pal of Andrew, paid Giuffre £370,000 for a “non-prosecution agreement”.
Andrew would almost certainly have to pay up to £10million to secure a “no liability” deal.
Even then, there is no guarantee of new deeply damaging material not being made public as negotiations drag on.
Effectively paying off an Epstein victim also means his reputation will never recover.
- Milica Cosic
District Judge Lewis Kaplan's crusher
PRINCE Andrew’s date with US justice was sealed in a coldly crafted judgment from a New York court.
District Judge Lewis Kaplan set out in 44 pages why the royal’s bid to get the case thrown out failed.
He swatted aside dossiers of obscure US legal cases the Prince’s legal team highlighted.
The judge called the 2009 deal signed between paedo Jeffrey Epstein and Virginia Guiffre “ambiguous”.
He said Andrew’s claim the non-prosecution agreement protected him as a third party was “an unduly broad generalization”.
Ms Guiffre’s case was “legally sufficient”, Judge Kaplan ruled.
District Judge Lewis Kaplan set out in 44 pages why the royalâs bid to get the case thrown out had failed - Milica Cosic
Buckingham Palace 'distancing' itself from Andrew
Last night Buckingham Palace distanced itself from Andrew. A spokesman for the Queen said they would not comment on an ongoing legal matter.
Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, said: “For the sake of his mother Andrew has to settle. The last thing his lawyers want is Andrew saying anything because he is a verbal disaster.”
Nigel Cawthorne, author of Prince Andrew: Epstein, Maxwell and the Palace, said: “It’s the final nail in the coffin of Andrew's reputation. If a settlement was made then the taxpayer would be right in asking where the money is coming from.”
- Milica Cosic
Queen rumoured to be bankrolling Andrew's case
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.
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.
“There is a need to limit the damage. Andrew, I suspect will be stripped of his royal titles. A settlement of five or ten million is a good bet but Ms Giuffre may want her day in court.”
- Milica Cosic
Prince Andrew ‘to pay £10m from sale of Swiss chalet to settle claims'
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 Sun understands.
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 Sun 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”.
- Milica Cosic
Family could give evidence
Andrew’s own family could be called as witnesses in the rape lawsuit against him in a bid to blow apart the royal’s Pizza Express alibi.
Legal experts said Andrew’s hopes of having the lawsuit dismissed were on the ropes last night after Judge Lewis Kaplan ripped apart his lawyers’ case.
Yet Judge Kaplan appeared mostly dismissive of this argument.
If the case goes ahead, here are five witnesses – including members of Andrew’s own family – who could be called to give evidence.
- Princess Beatrice
- Meghan Markle
- Princess Eugenie
- Sarah Ferguson
- Anonymous nightclub witness
Read the article in full here.
- Milica Cosic
Claims that Prince Andrew will have to face
Virginia has claimed she romped with Andrew in a bath when she was 17, after a night where he had allegedly been plying her with vodka a club in London.
Maxwell had previously said her bath was “too small” for sex.
In a manuscript, Virginia claimed: “It was a beige marble tiled floor with porcelain Victorian-style bathtub in the middle of the room and nowhere near the size of Jeffrey’s residences.”
She added: “I turned on the taps for the tub and the heat from the water began to steam up the small room.
“Trying to do the best of my youthfulness to try and act seductive, I gradually began to strip off my clothing, piece by piece.
“He loved every second of it as I went over to where he was waiting and watching, then began to undress him.
“We kissed and touched each other before submersing into the hot water, where we both continued to re-enact foreplay.”
Source: Read Full Article
