23 January 2023 , 09:04
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Prince Andrew has reportedly amassed a £10million 'war chest' to launch a legal case against Virginia Giuffre.
The disgraced royal is said to want to clear his name after damning links to paedophile and ex-pal Jeffrey Epstein and criminal Ghislaine Maxwell - as well as accusations against him.
Ms Giuffre brought a civil case alleging Andrew had sex with her on three occasions in 2001 when she was 17 years old.
The 62-year-old has always denied all allegations and settled a US civil sex abuse case with Ms Giuffre outside of court for a reported £12million. The settlement is not an admission of guilt by Andrew, who continues to deny any wrongdoing.
But now it has been reported that he is seeking to clear his name after previously being “pressured” into settling the case to avoid overshadowing the Platinum Jubilee.
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The disgraced prince has been stripped of his royal titles and booted from public life (AFP via Getty Images)Andrew has reportedly been given fresh hope after Giuffre, 38, withdrew a sex abuse allegation against US lawyer Alan Dershowtiz and admitted she “may have made a mistake”.
The Sun reported a royal source said: “Andrew has always insisted he is innocent and finally wants to prove it in a US court.
“He was pressured into settling the case to avoid overshadowing the Platinum Jubilee."
The report also added that King Charles was said to be “happy” for him to chase this and even though he wouldn’t publicly back him he still wants “the best for him”.
Andrew will reportedly claim in court that he never met Ms Giuffre and that a notorious photo of them together with Maxwell was faked.
The US civil sex case was settled last year after it was believed Prince Andrew would have been due to appear before a jury.
The Duke of York has been widely criticised for his association with Epstein, and even stayed at his mansion in February 2011 shortly after the financier was released from jail for child sex offences.
Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, both former friends of Prince Andrew (Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)In a later interview with the BBC Andrew would claim he stayed with Epstein because it was the "honourable thing".
Andrew was later stripped of all his military affiliations and royal charity patronages by his mum, the late Queen Elizabeth II.
But ever since a number of reports have surfaced about the royal plotting a comeback.
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In an interview tonight on TalkTV Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving 20 years in a US jail for child sex trafficking and other offences, repeats the unfounded claims that an infamous picture of her, Andrew and Virginia Giuffre is a fake.