King Charles III reportedly had no involvement in the £12 million settlement paid by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to resolve a legal case brought by one of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims. Buckingham Palace has taken steps to clarify that Charles did not contribute £1.5 million towards the total payout to Virginia Giuffre, who accused Andrew of sexual misconduct when she was 17 years old.
Andrew, who denied the allegations and claimed not to recall meeting Giuffre, made an undisclosed payment believed to be $15 million (equivalent to £12 million at the time) to settle a civil lawsuit in 2022. Recent reports indicated that Andrew received a loan of the sum from members of the Royal Family, including Charles and the late Queen Elizabeth II. However, a source close to Charles has stated that the King did not provide the reported £1.5 million for the settlement.
According to The Sun, approximately £7 million came from the late Queen as a loan, with an additional £3 million from Prince Philip’s estate. It was alleged that they financially supported Andrew’s settlement with Giuffre, with the late Queen reportedly distressed by the scandal.
Giuffre, who passed away by suicide in April without a will, left behind assets speculated to be valued at £16 million, sparking a legal dispute. The specific details of the settlement amount and the funding source for Andrew’s settlement remain undisclosed by the palace.
Previously, King Charles III had been providing Andrew with a substantial financial allowance to support his lifestyle and cover an estimated annual security cost of £3 million following the termination of his police protection by the Home Office.
Calls have intensified for Andrew to address allegations of sharing confidential information with Epstein to both the police and Parliament. King Charles has expressed deep concern over the misconduct accusations against Andrew, with Buckingham Palace indicating readiness to assist law enforcement if required.
Thames Valley Police have engaged with Crown Prosecution Service specialists, though a decision on launching a criminal investigation is pending confirmation.
As the crisis surrounding Andrew unfolds, Labour’s Sarah Owen and other MPs are seeking further insight into the disclosure of documents related to Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment as the US ambassador, underscoring ongoing turbulence within the monarchy and Westminster amidst the continuous release of Epstein files by US authorities.