01of 11November 16, 2019: The Bombshell InterviewBBC/Mark Harrison.In a “no holds barred” BBC interview recorded at Buckingham Palace, the Duke of York talked at length about his involvement with Jeffrey Epstein and the allegations ofVirginia Roberts(now Virginia Giuffre) that he had sex with her when she was 17 years old.“I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady, none whatsoever,” the duke, 61, told BBCPanoramaanchor Emily Maitlis aboutGiuffre’s allegationthat she was forced to have sex with the royal three times between 1999 and 2002. “It just never happened.“Queen Elizabeth’s son added that he had “absolutely no memory” and questioned the authenticity of a photograph showing the royal with his arm around Giuffre’s waist. Also, that he couldn’t have been present during an alleged sexual encounter in London because he had taken daughter Princess Beatrice to a pizza restaurant in Woking, Surrey.“That couldn’t have happened because the date that’s being suggested I was at home with the children,” he told Maitlis.
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November 16, 2019: The Bombshell Interview
BBC/Mark Harrison.
In a “no holds barred” BBC interview recorded at Buckingham Palace, the Duke of York talked at length about his involvement with Jeffrey Epstein and the allegations ofVirginia Roberts(now Virginia Giuffre) that he had sex with her when she was 17 years old.
“I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady, none whatsoever,” the duke, 61, told BBCPanoramaanchor Emily Maitlis aboutGiuffre’s allegationthat she was forced to have sex with the royal three times between 1999 and 2002. “It just never happened.”
Queen Elizabeth’s son added that he had “absolutely no memory” and questioned the authenticity of a photograph showing the royal with his arm around Giuffre’s waist. Also, that he couldn’t have been present during an alleged sexual encounter in London because he had taken daughter Princess Beatrice to a pizza restaurant in Woking, Surrey.
“That couldn’t have happened because the date that’s being suggested I was at home with the children,” he told Maitlis.
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November 20, 2019: Andrew Steps Back
Prince Andrew with BBC interviewer Emily Maitlis.
“It has become clear to me over the last few days that the circumstances relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my family’s work and the valuable work going on in the many organisations and charities that I am proud to support,” Andrew said in his statement.
“Therefore, I have asked Her Majesty if I may step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, and she has given her permission.”
03of 11January 27, 2020: ‘Zero Cooperation’Prince Andrew.Chris Jackson/WPA Pool/Getty ImagesGeoffrey S. Berman, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, told media that federal prosecutors and the FBI had asked to interview Andrew as part of their Jeffrey Epstein investigation, but that Andrew had so far provided “zero cooperation.”
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January 27, 2020: ‘Zero Cooperation’
Prince Andrew.Chris Jackson/WPA Pool/Getty Images
Geoffrey S. Berman, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, told media that federal prosecutors and the FBI had asked to interview Andrew as part of their Jeffrey Epstein investigation, but that Andrew had so far provided “zero cooperation.”
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August 9, 2021: The Lawsuit Begins
Prince Andrew; Virginia Roberts Giuffre.Alexander Koerner/Getty; Emily Michot/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty
05of 11August 27, 2021: Andrew Is ServedAlexander Koerner/Getty; TodayGiuffre’s lawyer accused the duke of doing everything he could to avoid being served with legal papers.“Process servers have shown up at his residence, and they have refused to take the summons and refused to let the process servers in to serve,” David Boies, chairman of New York-based law firm Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, said, according toABC News. “He has stopped coming out in public. He has been moving around.” Lawyers for Andrew refused to comment on Boies’ claims at the time.Court filings later revealed that Andrew was eventually served at 9:30 a.m. on August 27 at his Royal Lodge residence in Windsor.
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August 27, 2021: Andrew Is Served
Alexander Koerner/Getty; Today
Giuffre’s lawyer accused the duke of doing everything he could to avoid being served with legal papers.
“Process servers have shown up at his residence, and they have refused to take the summons and refused to let the process servers in to serve,” David Boies, chairman of New York-based law firm Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, said, according toABC News. “He has stopped coming out in public. He has been moving around.” Lawyers for Andrew refused to comment on Boies' claims at the time.
Court filings later revealed that Andrew was eventually served at 9:30 a.m. on August 27 at his Royal Lodge residence in Windsor.
06of 11September 13, 2021: The First HearingPrince Andrew.STEVE PARSONS/POOL/AFP via GettyAt a virtual hearing in New York, Andrew’s lawyer, Andrew B. Brettler of Lavely & Singer, described Giuffre’s lawsuit as “baseless, non-viable and potentially unlawful.“For the first time in court, Brettler also floated the idea that Giuffre could not sue Andrew because of an out-of-court settlement she had previously signed with Jeffrey Epstein. “There has been a settlement agreement that the Plaintiff has settled into in a prior action that releases the Duke and others from any and all potential liability,” he told the court, while requesting that the “secret” agreement be unsealed.Moving forward, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, scheduled an in-person hearing for October 13. Kaplan later said a trial date would likely take place between September and December 2022.
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September 13, 2021: The First Hearing
Prince Andrew.STEVE PARSONS/POOL/AFP via Getty
At a virtual hearing in New York, Andrew’s lawyer, Andrew B. Brettler of Lavely & Singer, described Giuffre’s lawsuit as “baseless, non-viable and potentially unlawful.”
For the first time in court, Brettler also floated the idea that Giuffre could not sue Andrew because of an out-of-court settlement she had previously signed with Jeffrey Epstein. “There has been a settlement agreement that the Plaintiff has settled into in a prior action that releases the Duke and others from any and all potential liability,” he told the court, while requesting that the “secret” agreement be unsealed.
Moving forward, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, scheduled an in-person hearing for October 13. Kaplan later said a trial date would likely take place between September and December 2022.
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December 29, 2021: Ghislaine Maxwell Convicted
Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein pictured at Balmoral in Scotland.HANDOUT/US District Court for the Southe/AFP via Getty Images
The jury acquitted Maxwell of one charge — enticement of a minor to travel with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity.
“It was Ghislaine who was the real enforcer,” Sarah Ransome, an Epstein survivor,told PEOPLEin December 2021. “She was the enforcer. She was the groomer. She controlled everything.”
08of 11January 4, 2022: Andrew’s Dismissal ApplicationPrince Andrew.STEVE PARSONS/POOL/AFP via GettyIn an echo of the September 13 hearing, the duke’s attorneys argued that the case should be dismissed because of a $500,000 settlement reached between Giuffre and Epstein in 2009.In the settlement, which does not name Prince Andrew, Giuffre agreed to “release, acquit, satisfy and forever discharge” Epstein and “any other person or entity who could have been included as a potential defendant.“On January 12, however, Judge Kaplan refused to grant the royal’s motion to dismiss on the grounds that Giuffre’s complaint met the minimum threshold: It was neither “‘unintelligible’ nor ‘vague’ nor ‘ambiguous.'”
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January 4, 2022: Andrew’s Dismissal Application
In an echo of the September 13 hearing, the duke’s attorneys argued that the case should be dismissed because of a $500,000 settlement reached between Giuffre and Epstein in 2009.
In the settlement, which does not name Prince Andrew, Giuffre agreed to “release, acquit, satisfy and forever discharge” Epstein and “any other person or entity who could have been included as a potential defendant.”
On January 12, however, Judge Kaplan refused to grant the royal’s motion to dismiss on the grounds that Giuffre’s complaint met the minimum threshold: It was neither “‘unintelligible’ nor ‘vague’ nor ‘ambiguous.'”
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January 13, 2022: Queen Strips Titles
The day after Judge Kaplan rejected Andrew’s attempt at dismissal, Buckingham Palace released the following statement regarding Andrew’s royal status:
“With The Queen’s approval and agreement, The Duke of York’s military affiliations and Royal patronages have been returned to The Queen.
“The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen.”
A royal source later confirmed to PEOPLE that the decision was “widely discussed” within the senior ranks of the royal family — likely meaning talks between Queen Elizabeth,Prince CharlesandPrince William.
The decision means that Andrew will no longer be able to use the style “His Royal Highness” in any official capacity.
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January 26, 2022: Trial By Jury
Karwai Tang/WireImage
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February 15, 2022: Prince Andrew Settles
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Andrew.Chris Jackson/Getty Images
It is announced that Andrew and Guiffre have reached an out-of-court settlement.
“Prince Andrew intends to make a substantial donation to Ms. Giuffre’s charity in support of victims’ rights,” the document stated. “Prince Andrew has never intended to malign Ms. Giuffre’s character, and he accepts that she has suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks.”
source: people.com
