The family of Virginia Roberts Giuffre, the late survivor who accused Prince Andrew of sexual abuse linked to Jeffrey Epstein’s trafficking network, has praised King Charles III’s decision to strip Andrew of his remaining royal titles. Calling it a “victory,” the family said the move symbolises long-overdue accountability for one of the most powerful men ever implicated in the Epstein scandal.“Virginia never stopped fighting for accountability, for herself and countless other survivors like her,” her brother Sky Roberts said in a statement to the BBC. “Today, she declares a victory.”The remarks came just days after Buckingham Palace confirmed that Prince Andrew, now referred to as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, will no longer hold any royal titles or official honours. The decision follows renewed scrutiny triggered by the release of Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, Nobody’s Girl, published in October.
A bittersweet moment for Giuffre’s family
Giuffre’s family described the announcement as both emotional and vindicating. Her sister-in-law, Amanda Roberts, told reporters that the decision marked “a moment Virginia would have been proud of,” adding that it proves her story has finally been recognised.Giuffre, who took her own life in April 2025, became one of the central figures in the Epstein scandal after accusing Prince Andrew of sexually abusing her when she was 17. Her 2022 civil lawsuit against him was settled out of court, with Andrew making a substantial payment to Giuffre’s charity for abuse survivors. While the prince denied the allegations and admitted no wrongdoing, the case severely damaged his public standing and the monarchy’s reputation.In Nobody’s Girl, Giuffre detailed three alleged encounters with the former Duke of York and described the exploitation she endured under Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Her words reignited public anger and forced the royal family to confront one of its darkest chapters.The move to strip Andrew of his titles marks a historic turning point for the monarchy. Once seen as untouchable, the royal family has faced mounting pressure to uphold ethical standards following years of controversy, including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s explosive departure and allegations of institutional neglect.King Charles’s decision to formally remove Andrew’s royal privileges was described by royal commentators as “unprecedented,” underscoring a clear effort to distance the crown from the lingering shadow of Epstein’s crimes.For Giuffre’s family, however, this is not the end. “We will not rest until the same accountability applies to all of Virginia’s abusers and abetters,” Sky Roberts said. “This is her victory, but the fight continues.”
