The Duke of York is said to be building a £10m “war chest” to reopen his battle with Virginia Giuffre who had pursued a civil case against him for sexual assault.
Lisa Bloom, another lawyer who also represents a number of Epstein’s victims, said the late Queen’s second son should just “forget” about it and “man up”.
She added: “Prince Andrew was represented by experienced, respected counsel. He signed his name to a settlement that was surely carefully negotiated. And now he wants out? Not going to happen. Nor should it.”
However, the Duke of York is said to have been inspired to act after Ms Giuffre dropped a defamation lawsuit against another man.
Prince Andrew warned plot to overturn £3m settlement with Giuffre ‘not going to happen’ (Image: Getty)
Lisa Bloom urged Prince Andrew: “Man up.” (Image: Getty)
Sarah Ferguson returns to royal fold with Camilla’s blessing as she aims to ‘support’ King
The Duchess of York’s love of horses and understanding about how to “play the game with Camilla” has seen her welcomed back into the Royal fold, an insider has said. This would have been unthinkable if the Queen or Prince Philip were still alive, with Prince Philip thinking she was “beyond the pale”.
Ms Guiffre recently said she “may have made a mistake” in identifying US lawyer and professor Alan Dershowitz as one of the men Epstein had trafficked her to.
Mr Dershowitz has always vehemently denied allegations against him.
To overturn his out-of-court settlement with Ms Giuffre, which sources claimed his lawyers negotiated down from the previously reported £12million to around £3million, the Duke of York would have to file a “motion to vacate the stipulation of settlement”.
He would need to prove such things as a mistake, accident, fraud or duress took place.
The Duke of York was prompted to act after Ms Giuffre dropped a separate defamation lawsuit. (Image: Getty)
Ms Giuffre launched a civil lawsuit against the Duke of York in the summer of 2021, accusing the royal of sexual assault while she was aged 17 and being trafficked by Epstein.
The Duke has always vehemently denied any wrongdoing and, in an interview with Newsnight in November 2019, he had claimed to have no recollection of ever meeting Ms Giuffre.
Andrew and Ms Giuffre’s case was dismissed in early 2022, after the Duke of York agreed to pay an undisclosed sum to the 39-year-old, a move which did not signal he accepted any liability.
A few weeks prior, as he was facing trial in the US, Andrew had returned his military and royal patronages to Queen Elizabeth II.
Andrew and Giuffre’s case was dismissed in March after the Duke of York paid an undisclosed sum. (Image: Getty)
Prince Andrew lost his military titles and royal patronages last year. (Image: Getty)
Buckingham Palace said in January 2022: “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.”
The Duke has since made only a handful of public appearances, mostly linked to paying tribute to his late parents, and hasn’t used his HRH style.
Express co uk has approached Prince Andrew’s spokesperson for comment.
Source: EXPRESS CO UK
