Virginia Giuffre would have seen Prince Andrew’s decision to relinquish his Duke of York title as a triumph, according to the co-author of her posthumous memoirs.
This comes as it was revealed that the prince has been paying a nominal rent on his 30-bedroom mansion for over two decades.
On Friday, Andrew announced he would no longer use his Royal titles and honours due to increased scrutiny over his association with convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. This announcement came just days before the release of a book by his sex accuser, Ms Giuffre.
The prince strongly refutes allegations that Ms Giuffre was coerced into having sex with him three times after being trafficked by Epstein.
Amy Wallace, co-author of Nobody’s Girl, spoke to BBC Newsnight about Ms Giuffre’s perspective on Andrew’s decision to stop using his titles.
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“I know that she would view it as a victory that he was forced by whatever means to voluntarily give them up,” stated Ms Wallace.
“For many, maybe particularly in the United States, but maybe even in the UK, it’s a symbolic gesture but it’s an important one. It’s made history, modern history, in terms of the royal era.
“I mean I’ve never heard of such a thing happening and it also is just a step in the right direction. Virginia wanted all the men who she’d been trafficked to against her will to be held to account and this is just one of the men but… even though he continues to deny it his life is being eroded because of his past behaviour as it should be.”
Andrew’s Friday statement has sparked numerous questions, particularly regarding his continued residence at the Royal Lodge estate in Windsor. Documentation from the Crown Estate, which manages the Royal family’s property portfolio, reveals Andrew secured a 75-year lease on the mansion in 2003.
The paperwork shows he paid £1 million upfront for the lease and has since paid just “one peppercorn” annually in rent “if demanded”. Additionally, he was obligated to contribute £7.5 million towards renovations that were finished in 2005, as detailed in a National Audit Office report.
The contract includes a provision requiring the Crown Estate to compensate Andrew approximately £558,000 should he surrender the lease.
Reports emerged last November that the King had cut Andrew’s yearly £1 million “living allowance”.
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Royal author Robert Hardman revealed in his publication that the keeper of the privy purse received orders to “instructed to sever his living allowance” after Andrew allegedly declined to relocate from Royal Lodge to the more modest Frogmore Cottage nearby.
When questioned about whether the monarch’s brother should retain his residence at the property, children and families minister Josh MacAlister told Times Radio on Monday morning: “You’ll understand why a Government minister isn’t going to get into second guessing what Buckingham Palace and the King may decide.
“I imagine over the course of this week there may be lots of questions about arrangements for Prince Andrew.”
Following the publication of her memoir, Ms Giuffre’s brother and sister-in-law, Sky and Amanda Roberts, have urged the police watchdog to examine the Metropolitan Police’s decision to halt investigations into her accusations against Andrew.
Speaking to Channel 4 News, they pressed the force to restart their inquiry into Ms Giuffre’s allegation that she was coerced into sexual relations with the Royal at age 17, stating that if officers refused to act, they believed the Independent Office for Police Conduct should scrutinise the decision.
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‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source uk.news.yahoo.com ’
