Prince Andrew's sex assault case formally closed after settlement paid

Disgraced British royal paid financial settlement to longtime accuser Virginia Giuffre, court documents show

Britain's Prince Andrew has not been criminally charged and has denied the allegations. AP

A sexual assault lawsuit against Prince Andrew by his longtime accuser has been formally dismissed after the disgraced British royal paid a financial settlement, court documents showed on Tuesday.

Lawyers for Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexually abusing her when she was 17, formally asked a judge to dismiss the lawsuit on Tuesday.

In February, the parties had settled out of court for an undisclosed sum, sparing the second son of Queen Elizabeth II a trial.

Both parties filed a “stipulation of dismissal” of the case in federal court in New York, which was signed by Judge Lewis Kaplan on Tuesday.

Last month's agreement had stated that the parties would file a motion for dismissal “upon Ms Giuffre's receipt of the settlement,” suggesting the settlement has been paid.

Ms Giuffre, 38, has said she had sex with Prince Andrew when she was 17 — a minor under US law — after meeting him through disgraced American financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Epstein took his own life in a New York City jail cell in 2019 while awaiting his own trial for sex crimes.

The prince, now 61, has not been criminally charged and has denied the allegations.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that Prince Andrew was to pay $13.1 million to Ms Giuffre and $2.6 million to a charity for victims of sex trafficking.

In January, Prince Andrew was stripped of his honorary military titles and his remaining charitable roles.

He withdrew from public life as a royal in 2019 after a widely ridiculed BBC interview in which he sought to absolve himself of Ms Giuffre's accusation.

Prince Andrew through the years - in pictures

Prince Andrew, centre, at the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at Windsor Castle alongside Prince William, Prince Harry and Prince Edward in April 2021. All photos: Getty Images

US president Donald Trump and his wife Melania, alongside Prince Andrew at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey in 2019.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Andrew arrive for the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in May 2019.

Princess Eugenie walks down the aisle with her father, Prince Andrew for her wedding to Jack Brooksbank at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in October 2018.

Prince Andrew and Prince Charles attend the Order of the Garter Service at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in June 2015.

Queen Elizabeth II is presented The Gold Cup by Prince Andrew after her horse Estimate won during Ladies Day of Royal Ascot in 2013.

Prince Andrew abseils down the Shard tower in London to raise money for charity in 2012.

Prince Andrew, Sarah, Duchess of York and their daughter, Princess Beatrice, following her graduation ceremony at Goldsmiths College in 2011.

Prince Andrew inspects the parade at The Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, in 2002, during the 138th Sovereign's Parade.

Wearing a traditional Guatemalan ceremonial jacket, Prince Andrew turns on the tap inaugurating an irrigation system in Nevaj, Guatemala, in 2002.

The wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson at Westminster Abbey, London, in July 1986.

Actors Michael Caine, Dudley Moore, singer Tom Jones and Prince Andrew, who is holding a cartoon of himself, attend a gala dinner to honour the prince by the British Olympic Association at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, in 1984.

Prince Andrew visits the California Science Centre, Los Angeles, in 1984.

Prince Andrew, Viscount Linley, Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones and Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, celebrating the Queen Mother's 76th birthday in the grounds of Clarence House in London, in 1976.

Queen Elizabeth II is pictured with her sons Prince Andrew, right, and Prince Edward as Prince Edward starts his first day at Heatherdown Preparatory School near Ascot in 1972.

Prince Andrew attends a Battle Royal review of the troops of the Household Division at Long Valley, Aldershot, in 1971.

Prince Andrew at the window of Buckingham Palace in London, in 1966.