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‘LEAVE HER ALONE’

Prince Andrew must ‘man up’ & accept he will NEVER overturn Virginia Giuffre abuse deal, say lawyers for Epstein victims

PRINCE Andrew must "man up" and accept he has zero chance of overturning his deal with sex accuser Virginia Giuffre, a US lawyer said last night.

Another lawyer representing Jeffrey Epstein's abuse victims said the disgraced duke should be "grateful he's not in jail".

Prince Andrew will claim he never met Virginia Guiffre her and a photo of them together is fake
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Prince Andrew will claim he never met Virginia Guiffre her and a photo of them together is fakeCredit: PA
The Duke of York, pictured at Sandringham on Christmas Day, hopes to return to royal duties
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The Duke of York, pictured at Sandringham on Christmas Day, hopes to return to royal dutiesCredit: PA
Ghislaine Maxwell insists Virginia was never at her home in an interview from jail
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Ghislaine Maxwell insists Virginia was never at her home in an interview from jailCredit: PA

It comes after The Sun revealed Andrew, 62, was plotting a sensational bid to overturn the legal settlement he agreed to last February.

He paid Virginia, now 39, a reported £3million to drop her sex abuse lawsuit in New York.

Now The Duke of York has amassed a £10million war chest to reopen the case and force an apology.

He will claim he never met her and that a photo of them together was faked.

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Last night top lawyer Lisa Bloom, who represents several of Epstein’s victims, said the duke can "forget it".

She : “Prince Andrew signed his name to a settlement. And now he wants out?

“Not going to happen. Nor should it, because the pain he would inflict on Virginia.

“Leave her alone. Live up to your agreement. Man up.”

Leading US attorney Spencer Kuvin, who also represents victims of paedo financier Epstein, said: “It is unbelievable.

“His chances of overturning a negotiated and agreed settlement are just about as likely as Epstein coming back to life.

“Andrew needs to just feel grateful that he is not in jail.”

To overturn the deal, Andrew would need to prove a mistake, accident, fraud or duress.

He was given fresh hope after Virginia withdrew sex allegations against top lawyer Alan Dershowitz, admitting she “may have made a mistake” in identifying him.

The duke was also set to be boosted by a new TV interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, set to air on TalkTV tonight.

The jailed socialite, 61, insists: “I have no memory of them meeting. And I don’t think that picture is real.

“There is no original of that photo, (just) copies of copies and parts of it, according to some experts, look like it has been photoshopped. I don’t remember her in my home.”

Virginia has claimed she was trafficked to London and forced to have sex with the royal at Maxwell's home.

An infamous snap allegedly showed the grinning duke with his arm round Virginia, then 17, with Maxwell standing close by.

Andrew has denied ever meeting her, and has also suggested the photo is doctored.

Sources said he felt "bounced" into settling out of court as Buckingham Palace feared the bombshell case would overshadow the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

Now he is consulting US lawyers Andrew Brettler and Blair Berk and hopes to force a retraction or even an apology — which may clear the way for a return to royal duties.

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 and has paid a heavy price, personally and professionally.

The King is happy for him to pursue this.

“As Head of State, he can’t back him publicly, but Andrew is still his brother and he wants the best for him.”

Andrew has never been more financially secure, added the source.

He and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson made £10million from selling their Swiss ski chalet last year.

The Queen is thought to have left him an inheritance of “several million”.

Andrew reportedly settled with Ms Giuffre for £12million but sources close to him say it was closer to £3million.

A gagging order preventing her from speaking out is reportedly due to expire in weeks.

He has always denied her claims that his pal, convicted paedo Jeffrey Epstein, introduced them in 2001 when Ms Giuffre was 17.

Epstein, 66, hanged himself in jail while awaiting trial for sickening sex crimes in 2019.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

Maxwell, Epstein’s ex-girlfriend, is serving 20 years for child sex trafficking.

  • JEREMY Kyle Live: Ghislaine Behind Bars is on TalkTV from 7pm.
The Duke of York denies claims his pal Jeffrey Epstein introduced him to Ms Giuffre when she was 17
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The Duke of York denies claims his pal Jeffrey Epstein introduced him to Ms Giuffre when she was 17Credit: Jae Donnelly
Andrew and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson made £10million from selling their Swiss ski chalet last year
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Andrew and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson made £10million from selling their Swiss ski chalet last yearCredit: EPA
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