Prince Andrew Fails to Repay £12 Million Royal Family Loan for Giuffre Settlement
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former prince, has not repaid a single penny of the approximately £12 million reportedly borrowed from the British Royal Family to settle a sexual abuse lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre, according to a report by The Sun. The funds were used in 2022 to resolve Giuffre's allegations against Andrew, preventing a public court battle.
Royal Family's Financial Contributions to the Settlement
The late Queen Elizabeth II contributed around £7 million from her personal resources, while Prince Philip's estate added approximately £3 million a year after his death. Then-Prince Charles, now King Charles III, provided about £1.5 million, with several other royals also contributing smaller amounts. This collective effort was aimed at stopping Giuffre's civil case against Andrew from proceeding to trial.
A source cited in the report stated: "As far as anyone knows, he still has not repaid a single penny of the millions he borrowed. The money from the Royal Family bought her silence but denied Virginia her day in court and the chance to openly challenge his account of what happened."
Failed Repayment Plan and Property Sale Collapse
Andrew had planned to use the proceeds from selling his £19 million Swiss ski chalet in Verbier to repay the loan. However, this strategy collapsed when the sale reportedly yielded little to no profit due to substantial mortgage debt on the property. The upscale chalet, located in the Swiss resort of Verbier, was burdened with financial obligations that undermined Andrew's ability to generate sufficient funds from the transaction.
The Royal Family agreed to the settlement thinking it would help draw a line under the scandal, particularly ahead of the Platinum Jubilee in February 2022. They reportedly decided to "take a little from here and a little from there" to assemble the necessary amount. Queen Elizabeth II was aware that the issue would not be fully resolved during her lifetime and that her son, Charles, would have to manage it after her death.
Royal Family's Motivation for the Settlement
The Royal Family urged Andrew to settle the case to avoid a repeat of his disastrous 2019 Newsnight interview, where he denied allegations of sexual assault by claiming he was at a Pizza Express in Woking. They feared further public scrutiny and damage to the monarchy's reputation.
Giuffre's Allegations and the Settlement Details
Virginia Giuffre, a prominent victim of Jeffrey Epstein's sex-trafficking ring, alleged in her posthumous memoir that Epstein trafficked her and forced her to have sex with Andrew on three occasions, including once when she was 17 years old. Andrew, who reportedly claimed he never met Giuffre, still agreed to the multi-million-pound settlement to avoid facing her in a U.S. court.
Giuffre wrote about the settlement: "After casting doubt on my credibility for so long – Prince Andrew’s team had even gone so far as to try to hire internet trolls to hassle me – the Duke of York owed me a meaningful apology as well."
Andrew's Ties to Jeffrey Epstein and Aftermath
The report suggests Andrew hid the extent of his relationship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein from his family, who helped him pay Giuffre. Andrew claimed he cut ties with Epstein in 2010 after Epstein was released from jail for soliciting a minor for prostitution. However, recently released documents by the U.S. Department of Justice show their correspondence continued until late.
Following the revelations, King Charles III announced plans to strip Andrew of his royal titles and remove him from his Royal Lodge residence in Windsor. With ongoing discussions about the Epstein files and prominent names emerging, it remains uncertain whether Andrew will face a formal investigation over accusations that he shared confidential information with Epstein while serving as a trade envoy.
