Explosive court documents have revealed extraordinary attempts by Prince Andrew to enlist London's Metropolitan Police in his campaign to discredit Virginia Giuffre, the woman who accused him of sexual assault.
The newly unsealed files from a 2015 legal battle show the Duke of York's legal team actively sought police assistance to challenge Giuffre's credibility, marking a dramatic escalation in his defence strategy against the serious allegations.
The Secret Legal Manoeuvres
According to the documents, Andrew's lawyers approached Scotland Yard with requests to help undermine Giuffre's testimony. The legal team attempted to use police resources to gather information that could potentially smear the accuser's reputation and challenge her account of events.
This revelation comes from previously confidential court papers that have now been made public, shedding new light on the lengths to which the royal was prepared to go in fighting the allegations.
A Pattern of Defence
The unsealed documents reveal a consistent pattern in Andrew's approach to the allegations. Rather than directly addressing the claims, his legal strategy appeared focused on attacking Giuffre's character and credibility through various means.
Legal experts suggest this approach, while not uncommon in high-profile cases, raises serious questions about the use of police resources in what was essentially a private legal dispute between the Duke and his accuser.
Fallout from Epstein Connections
The allegations against Prince Andrew first gained significant public attention due to his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Giuffre claims she was trafficked by Epstein and forced to have sex with the Duke on three separate occasions when she was 17 years old.
Prince Andrew has consistently denied all allegations, famously giving a disastrous BBC Newsnight interview in 2019 that many commentators believe damaged his reputation irreparably.
Metropolitan Police Response
It remains unclear how the Metropolitan Police responded to Andrew's requests for assistance. The force has previously faced criticism over its handling of investigations related to Jeffrey Epstein and his associates.
The revelation that Scotland Yard was approached by the Duke's legal team adds another layer of complexity to an already controversial chapter in royal history.
Ongoing Legal Consequences
Prince Andrew eventually settled the civil case with Virginia Giuffre out of court in 2022, reportedly paying millions of pounds without admitting liability. However, these new document revelations threaten to reopen old wounds and raise fresh questions about the royal's conduct during the legal proceedings.
The unsealed papers provide unprecedented insight into the behind-the-scenes legal tactics employed by one of the most senior members of the Royal Family when facing serious criminal allegations.
