Virginia Giuffre: Epstein accuser’s family releases statement as Andrew is stripped of prince title

Virginia Giuffre’s family has reacted to Prince Andrew being stripped of his remaining royal titles as outrage intensifies over his connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

On Thursday at 7pm (6am local time), Buckingham Palace announced that Andrew will lose his “prince” title and be forced out of the 30-bedroom Royal Lodge.

“His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew,” a statement from the Palace read.

“Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

“His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence.

“Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation.”

The controversy surrounding Andrew has blown up recently following sexual abuse allegations detailed in Giuffre’s posthumously published memoir: Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice.

Giuffre alleged she had sex with Andrew on three occasions and details her encounters with him in the book, including one instance when she was 17 years old and being trafficked by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

In the memoir, she describes Andrew as “entitled”, saying he “believed having sex with me was his birthright”.

Andrew has repeatedly denied all allegations and previously settled a civil lawsuit with Giuffre out of court in 2022, reportedly for millions of dollars.

In the wake of Andrew’s royal downfall, Giuffre’s family has released an emotional statement, calling the move to strip the ex-Duke of his remaining royal titles as a “victory”.

“Today, an ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family, brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage,” the statement read.

“Virginia Roberts Giuffre, our sister, a child when she was sexually assaulted by Andrew, never stopped fighting for accountability for what had happened to her and to countless other survivors like her. Today, she declares victory.

“We, her family, along with her survivor sisters, continue Virginia’s battle and will not rest until the same accountability applies to all of the abusers and abettors connected to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.”

Buckingham Palace added that the action taken is “deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that (Andrew) continues to deny the allegations against him”.

“Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse”.

The dramatic development in the long-running debacle comes just weeks after Andrew gave up his title as the Duke of York, which marked the first time a senior royal has stopped using a dukedom for more than 100 years.