Financial agreement between Prince Andrew and his accuser: will Elizabeth II pay the bill?

It's time for an "

underlines in its columns

This Tuesday, February 15, Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre have reached an amicable agreement.

Friend of billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, arrested in 2019 for

and died in his cell a month later, the 60-year-old was accused by the 38-year-old American of having sexually assaulted her, while she was 17 years old.

The latter wanted to see him tried in a civil trial in New York, but finally gave up, reports in a letter the plaintiff's lawyer David Boies, specifying the intention of the two parties to end the case within 30 days.

Read alsoUnder the threat of a trial in New York, Prince Andrew surrenders his weapons to the Queen

No clear acknowledgment of facts

In a document sent to the American courts this beginning of the week, the second son of the Queen of England, who had always disputed the accusations, "acknowledges that Virginia Giuffre suffered as a proven victim of abuse and following 'unjust public attacks'

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According to his lawyers, the royal family pariah “regrets his links with (Jeffrey) Epstein and salutes the courage of Ms Giuffre and the other victims who have spoken up in their defense”.

In this one-page note, however, there is no mention of the American's accusations against Prince Andrew, nor of the latter's denials.

In video, Andrew, the prince who embarrassed the crown

At Her Majesty's expense?

The exact financial terms of the deal have not been released, but according to the court document, the Duke of York 'intends to make a significant donation to Virginia Giuffre's organization which supports victims' rights' of sexual assaults.

Last year, the complainant, who now lives in Australia, actually founded this association and called it Speak Out, Act, Reclaim.

A decision that did not fail to react Lisa Bloom, lawyer for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein on Twitter.

"(Virginia Giuffre) did what no one else could have done: got Prince Andrew to stop his nonsense and side with the victims of sexual violence," she wrote.

The Guardian

reports that this agreement "will be a relief for the Queen, who would have helped to pay her son's legal costs."

argues that it would also be Her Majesty who would pay the compensation, or 12 million pounds (14.4 million euros).

"The Royal Family feared a trial would overshadow the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations this year

" abounds

An

indelible

stain

As a reminder, in mid-January, Prince Andrew had been stripped of his military titles and royal sponsorships by the Queen.

One more humiliation for one who was seen as a hero of the Falklands War in 1982. This case will leave “a stain on his reputation and on that of the institution, concludes

.

A stain that may never leave.