A source close to the King said he did not provide the reported £1.5 million contribution towards the payout made to Virginia Giuffre, who accused Andrew of having sex with her when she was 17 after she was trafficked to London by Epstein. Andrew has consistently denied wrongdoing and said he did not recall meeting Giuffre. In 2022, he agreed to pay an undisclosed sum widely reported to be around $15 million (then roughly £12 million) to settle the civil sexual assault lawsuit without any admission of liability.
According to reports in The Sun, about £7 million of the settlement was provided as a “loan” from the late Queen Elizabeth II, with a further £3 million said to have come from the estate of Prince Philip. Other members of the Royal Family were reported to have contributed additional funds. However, sources insist the King was not among them.
The controversy has reignited political debate. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for police to interview Andrew, arguing that the trafficking of girls into the UK linked to Epstein warrants further scrutiny. Writing in New Statesman, Brown said newly released US Department of Justice files raised questions about flights into UK airports, including Stansted, allegedly connected to Epstein.
Epstein, who died by suicide in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, had previously been convicted in 2008 for soliciting sex from a minor. His associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, was later convicted in the United States for her role in recruiting and trafficking underage girls.
The Metropolitan Police previously reviewed allegations linked to Andrew and, in 2021, confirmed he faced no further action after assessing Giuffre’s claims. However, Thames Valley Police are currently reviewing separate allegations, including claims that confidential information may have been shared with Epstein while Andrew served as a UK trade envoy. A decision is expected in the coming weeks on whether a full investigation will follow.
Giuffre, who died by suicide in Western Australia in April aged 41, had pursued the civil case against Andrew in the United States. Her death has since led to further legal disputes over her estate.
Palace officials have declined to comment on whether any internal inquiry is under way regarding Andrew’s past association with Epstein, citing concerns about prejudicing potential police investigations. Buckingham Palace has said it would support any lawful inquiry.
Questions have also persisted over Andrew’s personal finances. After stepping back from official duties in 2019, he ceased receiving public funds and was supported privately by the late Queen and subsequently by the King. Last year, reports indicated that the King ended a multimillion-pound allowance previously provided to Andrew after disagreements over his residence at Royal Lodge, Windsor.
The full details of how the settlement was financed have never been formally disclosed by the Palace.
