Three years on, the ‘significant sum’ paid out by Prince Andrew has still not reached accuser Virginia Giuffre’s charity – leaving serious questions over where the money went
It was hailed as a moment of closure — a royal settlement that would finally allow both sides to move on from one of the most damaging scandals in modern royal history. Yet, three years after Prince Andrew agreed to pay Virginia Giuffre a “significant sum” to settle her civil lawsuit, the money earmarked for her charity has reportedly never arrived.
Giuffre, who had pledged to donate the proceeds to organisations supporting victims of abuse and exploitation, has been left “disheartened and confused,” according to sources close to her foundation. The charity, established in the aftermath of her legal battle, was expected to benefit directly from the multi-million-pound settlement — but to date, no funds have been received.
The revelation has reignited questions about the opaque nature of the Duke of York’s secretive payout. Neither Buckingham Palace nor Andrew’s representatives have confirmed how much was paid, where the money was held, or whether any part of the agreement has since been delayed or renegotiated. One insider told the Mail: “Everyone assumed the money had gone where it was supposed to — but the silence has been deafening. It’s beginning to look like there’s more to this deal than anyone realised.”
Legal experts say that while such settlements are often confidential, the lack of transparency risks fuelling public suspicion. Giuffre’s supporters have called on both Andrew’s team and his financial advisers to clarify whether the full amount was ever transferred — and if so, why her charity is yet to see a single penny.
Meanwhile, royal aides are said to be growing anxious behind the scenes. “The Palace had hoped this issue was finished,” said one senior source. “Now it looks as though it could come back to haunt them — again.”
For Prince Andrew, who remains stripped of his royal duties and shunned from public life, the revelation is another unwelcome headline at a time when his reputation is already in tatters. As one royal commentator put it: “He paid to make the story go away — but it hasn’t. And until that money reaches its rightful place, it never will.”
