The Duke of York has settled a £6.6 million debt with a French socialite, allowing him to sell a Swiss chalet as he faces mounting legal costs from a sexual assault lawsuit, according to reports.
Isabelle de Rouvre, 74, who sold Chalet Helora in Verbier to Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York, in 2014 for a reported £18 million, confirmed the payment. 'The war is over. He has paid the money,' she told MailOnline.
The Yorks had agreed to pay in instalments but missed the final £5 million payment. Rouvre launched legal action in Switzerland in May 2020 to recover the sum plus interest. Andrew is said to have paid late last year, and the chalet has now been sold, though the sale is not yet completed.
The prince is selling the property as he defends a civil lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre, who alleges she was forced to have sex with him after being trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew denies the allegations and is awaiting a judge's decision on his bid to have the case dismissed.
