Now There’s A Surprise !

[Bobbisox1]

https://news.sky.com/story/prince-andrew-and-virginia-giuffre-settle-out-of-court-over-civil-sex-assault-claim-12542826

[Gromit]

// his reputation is intact. //

I realise it isn’t. Not that it was great to begin with.

Rather than his sleazy goings on, I am more interested in Andrew’s shady dealings in the arms industry, in Yemen, Azerbaijan and Saudi with BAE. His small fortune was built on exporting deadly arms to dodgy Arabs, and the death and misery that brought on the poor unfortunates were those arms landed.

[burlyshirley]

Mmm didn't he say he'd never met her and yet he's paying out all these millions to someone he had never met !!

[andy-hughes]

Burlyshirley - probably under instructions from his legals, Andrew actually said he 'could not recall' meeting her.

That meant, if proof was found, he could not be accused of lying.

[DTCwordfan]

very much - brilliant obfuscation on part of both lawyers...and who really wins - they do!

[tonyav]

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/entertainment/celebrity/queen-to-help-pay-for-%c2%a312m-prince-andrew-settlement/ar-AATTTZi?li=BBoPWjQ

[jno]

hm, Giuffre's lawyer was acting pro bono.

[DTCwordfan]

If true, that must be a record for one or two bonks......

[Gromit]

‘Hush money’ is so badly named.
Give someone who you claim you have never met a big wad of money, and everyone thinks (knows) you are guilty as sin, and talks about it.

[JimF]

Exactly! Is there really anybody who honestly believes that he hasn't used his ridiculous privilege and enormous wealth to buy his way out of this?

[fender62]

us lesser mortals would already be in prison..

[Gromit]

He has retired.
Stripped of his titles, a pariah and a laughing stock.
He cannot perform any Royal duties because no everyone thinks he is contemptible. He is a waste of space and no use to anyone, least of all us taxpayers.
I’m not sure there is any way back for him.

[naomi24]

Jim, he hasn’t bought his way out of it. Paying her off is tantamount to an admission of guilt and his reputation along with his credibility is forever trashed. He’s finished.

[tonyav]

^^^^^^^ yep, I foresee a life on far away shores.

[JimF]

He has bought his way out of the court case.

[Hopkirk]

It worked for Michael Jackson. Some people still refuse to accept he was a paedophile

[davebro]

"get thee to a nunnery!" oh wait...

[Deskdiary]

Prince Andrew is an arrogant buffoon and always has been, and on balance I suspect he probably did shag Giuffre, so he's paid her off to make the court case go away, and he will now forever be tainted.

But...

What happened to Giuffre wanting her day in court and it not being about money?

Surely the fact that American civil cases are generally settled on the steps of the court is irrelevant in this case isn't it given Giuffre was quite clear that she wanted her day in court and it wasn't about money?

Or is the actual truth is that it was about money all along?

If anybody truly believes the settlement is just a donation to a charity and she isn't trousering a shed load herself (possibly more than the donation even), I have some magic beans to sell if anybody is interested.

[douglas9401]

Don't forget the massive downside that is the flood of expert commentary that will fill the "documentary" section of Sky for decades to come with the plummy ramblings of aged wimmin and ex butlers plus a couple of token geezers to bless 'er majesty.

He's done, that's the good news.

[burlyshirley]

It was announced in the press recently that he will be attending Prince Philip's thanksgiving service, standing next to the Queen. Will this still happen now I wonder ? If so, it will prove that he still has her backing. I suspect Charles and William won't want him there.

[youngmafbog]

I'm not sure what the surprise is at all.

These sort of cases, especially in the USA, are settled before Court dates due to a) there doesnt have to be any actual proof you did it and b) the cost of defending can be astronomical.