Prince Andrew, Duke of York, is once again in the spotlight. Following the release of new details regarding his connection to Jeffrey Epstein, media outlets have been questioning the origins of the reported $14 million settlement he paid to Virginia Giuffre to avoid taking her case to trial.
The younger brother of King Charles III reached a financial agreement with Giuffre in 2022, ending the civil lawsuit she filed in the United States, where she accused Andrew of sexually abusing her when she was 17 years old. The prince has long denied the allegations and has never been criminally convicted.
Where did the $14 million come from?
© UK Press via Getty ImagesAccording to a report published by The Sun, the funds that were used to settle the lawsuit reportedly came from within the British royal family.
The breakdown cited in the report claims that around $9.49 million came from Queen Elizabeth II. $3.56 million reportedly came from the estate of Prince Philip, who had died the year before the agreement with Giuffre was reached. Around $2.02 million was allegedly contributed by King Charles III.
A source quoted by the outlet claimed that Andrew has not paid the money back. The report further alleges that members of the royal family believed financing the settlement could help contain the scandal ahead of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.
Virginia Giuffre’s allegations
© Anadolu via Getty ImagesVirginia Giuffre is one of Jeffrey Epstein's most outspoken alleged victims, having been a part of numerous articles and documentaries exploring his case. Over the years, she's claimed that Epstein forced her to have sexual encounters with Prince Andrew on three occasions, starting when she was 17 years old. She discussed her experiences in her memoir, "Nobody's Girl," which came out last year.
A widely circulated photograph taken at Ghislaine Maxwell's London home shows Andrew with his arm around Giuffre, and has become a very important part of all cases related to her abuse, demonstrating a connection between the four of them. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking.
Prince Andrew has repeatedly said he does not recall meeting Giuffre and has maintained that he cut ties with Epstein in 2010, following Epstein’s earlier conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. However, emails that have surfaced over the years suggest that the two continued to be in contact following Epstein's criminal charges.
Royal family fallout
© TNSIn the wake of the scandal, Andrew stepped back from public duties, lost his military affiliations, and the use of the “His Royal Highness” title in official settings.
He was also asked to vacate the Royal Lodge, the Windsor estate property where he had been living.
Virginia Giuffre died by suicide in April of 2025, at the age of 41. Her memoir, detailing her sexual assault allegations and experiences, was published shortly after her death. Over four years after the settlement, questions surrounding how the $14 million agreement was financed continue to spark public debate and reignite scrutiny over Prince Andrew’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
© GettyImages
