Virginia Giuffre's estranged husband and daughter have been formally added to court proceedings in the escalating legal dispute over her estate. Ms Giuffre, the most prominent victim of convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, took her own life last year. She was famously photographed alongside the then Prince Andrew, a picture that contributed to his dramatic downfall and departure from the Royal family.
Legal Battle Over Inheritance
A looming court case will determine who inherits Ms Giuffre's wealth, which includes a reported £12m settlement from Prince Andrew. It remains unclear how much of that sum remains after legal costs. Supreme Court Justice Natalie Whitby last week ordered Robert Giuffre and their daughter, who cannot be named as a minor, to be added to the counterclaim alongside sons Christian, 19, and Noah, 18.
Registrar Danielle Davies stated: "It appears to me that the deceased's husband should be joined or at the very least notified." Ms Giuffre died without a formal will, and her sons initially applied to be appointed administrators of her estate last year. However, her barrister Karrie Louden and former carer Cheryl Myers challenged this, claiming Ms Giuffre had written an informal will outlining her wishes.
Dispute Over Informal Will
A previous hearing considered how Mr Giuffre and the daughter might be added to the brothers' claim, including appointing an independent guardian for the minor to avoid conflict. Judge Whitby's orders mean the two are now official defendants alongside Christian and Noah. The case returns to court in Perth on 3 July for a case management conference.
A legal source explained: "The dispute is between Giuffre's adult sons, who applied to administer the estate because no formal signed will was found, and Louden and Myers, who argue Giuffre's informal written wishes should be recognised under Western Australia succession law. The current case is about whether the informal document is legally valid, who should administer the estate, and how it should be handled."
Court documents filed by the sons reportedly state: "The deceased did not intend for such instructions to constitute her will." The counterclaim from Louden and Myers relies on wording allegedly written by Giuffre: "I appoint Cheryl MYERS and Karrie Jean LOUDEN as my executors and trustees."
Background and Ongoing Investigations
Ms Giuffre took her own life in April last year at her farm near Neergabby, north of Perth. The exact value of her estate is yet to be determined after she received several civil settlements related to allegations she was sex trafficked as a teenager by Epstein, including the substantial settlement from Prince Andrew. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor accepted no liability and has always denied her claims.
Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on Buckingham Palace over claims it received emails six years ago showing the former Prince Andrew shared confidential information while a trade envoy. Analysis by BBC journalists found a tranche of emails regarding his financial dealings was handed to the Royal Household in 2020. The BBC reported seeing a document from 2021 that appeared to show the archive was sent to the Lord Chamberlain in May 2020, months after Andrew stepped down from royal duties.
The revelation has led to fresh calls for an inquiry into his time as trade envoy from 2001 to 2011 and his links to Epstein. MP Rachael Maskell said public scrutiny was essential, adding: "The web grows ever darker—the system built around the Royal Household has to be reviewed." The palace said it could not comment due to an ongoing police inquiry into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
