According to The Telegraph, Queen Elizabeth is “privately funding” Prince Andrew’s legal fight against sexual abuse allegations by Virginia Roberts Giuffre. The outlet reports that Elizabeth agreed to help Andrew with his legal fees at the beginning of 2020 after he received blowback from critics and the public for his Newsnight interview, in which he failed to distance himself from Jeffrey Epstein or show empathy towards his victims, per The Guardian. Prince Andrew stepped down from public duties as a result of that interview and therefore has not been able to make any money as a working royal for the past two years.
The outlet reports that Andrew is represented by Andrew Brettler and Melissa Lerner from the Los Angeles-based Lavley Singer, which is a go-to for celebrities with legal troubles. Andrew is believed to be charged $2,000 per hour for legal services conducted by the law firm. The Telegraph reports that the funds — worth millions — are coming from Elizabeth’s private Duchy of Lancaster estate.
While Elizabeth has had no problem supporting Andrew in his legal fight, royal courtiers expect the legal fees to be substantial, as Giuffre is seeking “compensatory and punitive damages,” per The Guardian, which could amount to millions of dollars depending on the length of the lawsuit and potential settlements.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN’s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
