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According to one, Author Penny Junor, the news will come as a “huge relief” for the royal family and the Queen. Ms Junor told the PA news agency: “Going to trial, it could have been very, very nasty. It could have been embarrassing, humiliating, and it would have been huge fodder for the tabloid press. It could have really taken the shine off the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year.”
Court documents revealed on Tuesday that the prince’s lawyers had reached a “settlement in principle” with Ms Guiffre, who brought a civil court case against Andrew late last year accusing him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17 years old.
Prince Andrew has vehemently denied the claims and looked set for a court showdown later this year.
Reacting to the changes, Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville-Roberts wrote on twitter: “Prince Andrew has changed his tune from demanding his name be cleared by jury trial to making an undisclosed but substantial donation to victim of sexual abuse Giuffre’s charity.
“Platinum-plated ‘no comment’ from Buckingham Palace.”
Labour MP Nadia Whittome also criticised the prince’s statement and questioned how the settlement was being funded.
She wrote on twitter: “Prince Andrew now “commends Guiffre’s bravery” after he accused her of lying and dragged her name through the mud.
“This settlement isn’t some act of philanthropy – it prevents this case going to court.
“We must also ask: where is the money coming from?”
Representatives for Prince Andrew said he would not be expanding beyond the statement filed in court.
The Women’s Equality Party tweeted: “Today a powerful man has paid a lot of money to avoid going to court to face the accusations made against him.
“The paths to justice for women are so narrow. Solidarity with Virginia Giuffre after this ordeal.”
Nazir Afzal OBE, former crown prosecutor for the North West of England, wrote: “It’s a credit to Ms Guiffre that she has insisted all the money goes to her charities in support of victims rights.”
READ MORE: How much did Andrew pay Virginia Giuffre: Experts give their verdicts
“Prince Andrew intends to make a substantial donation to Ms. Giuffre’s charity in support of victims’ rights.
“Prince Andrew has never intended to malign Ms Giuffre’s character, and he accepts that she has suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks.”
The statement also said that the prince regretted his association with Epstein, who committed suicide in a US prison while facing trial for sex crimes.
When asked for comment by PA News Agency, Giuffre’s lawyer, David Boies, said: “I believe the event speaks for itself”.
Lawyer Lisa Bloom, who represents eight of Epstein’s victims, hailed the settlement as a “victory” for Giuffre.
She wrote on Twitter: “We hail Virginia’s victory today. She has accomplished what no one else could: getting Prince Andrew to stop his nonsense and side with sexual abuse victims. We salute Virginia’s stunning courage.”
