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London: Britain’s Prince Andrew will give evidence next month in the sex abuse lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre, a source close to the prince says.
The Duke of York, who denies accusations that he sexually abused Giuffre two decades ago when she was 17, will speak under oath in London, the London Telegraph newspaper reported.
Prince Andrew pictured with Virginia Giuffre, at the home of recently convicted sex-trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell (right) in London in 2001. Credit:
“We agreed to voluntarily produce the Duke for a deposition on March 10. Despite repeated requests, Ms Giuffre still hasn’t committed to a date or location for her deposition,” the source told Reuters.
Andrew will be questioned in a session that is expected to last two days. The Telegraph reported that lawyers will also interview Shukri Walker, who allegedly saw Andrew and Giuffre together at a nightclub 20 years ago, and a former member of the royal staff, Robert Ashton Olney.
Giuffre, 38, sued Andrew last August, alleging he battered her while the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was trafficking her.
In a filing with the US District Court in Manhattan, Andrew, 61, admitted meeting Epstein in or around 1999, but denied Giuffre’s allegation that he “committed sexual assault and battery” upon her.
Andrew’s ties to Epstein, who killed himself in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex abuse charges, have undermined his reputation with the public and standing in Britain’s royal family.
Last month, the family removed Andrew’s military links and military patronages, and said the second son of the Queen would no longer be known as “His Royal Highness”.