Prince Andrew's hopes of returning to the Royal Family are 'firmly closed' following the death of his accuser Virginia Giuffre, sources have claimed. Ms Giuffre, 41, died by suicide at her farm in Western Australia on Friday, a few years after settling a civil sexual abuse case against the Duke of York for a reported £12 million.
The Duke, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, had been keen to make a comeback, according to insiders. He recently joined the King and Queen for an Easter Sunday service and had been eyeing a return to the royal fold. However, since Ms Giuffre's death, Prince Andrew skipped his regular horse-ride on Saturday and only briefly left his Royal Lodge mansion to walk his corgis with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
Ms Giuffre, who was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein as a teenager, alleged she was sexually abused by Prince Andrew—claims he has strongly denied. She received a reported £12 million from the royal to settle the civil case, as well as compensation through the Epstein victims' program and a defamation payout from Ghislaine Maxwell.
Police in Western Australia said the death is not being treated as suspicious. Emergency services were called at 9:50 pm local time on Friday, and despite efforts to administer first aid, Ms Giuffre was declared deceased at the scene. Her family paid tribute, describing her as 'a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse' who ultimately found the toll of abuse unbearable.
