Fox News Flash top entertainment headlines 2/16
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Prince Andrew will never be restored to a "position on the balcony" after he settled a sexual abuse lawsuit with accuser Virginia Giuffre, according to Hollywood publicist R. Couri Hay.
Giuffre accused Prince Andrew of sexually abusing her on three separate occasions when she was under 18 at the behest of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The case was set to go to trial in the fall of 2022.
The exact number to be paid out in the settlement is unknown, but Hay estimates it to be anywhere from $10-15 million, plus legal fees to be covered by Prince Andrew. Besides the undisclosed donation to Giuffre’s charity, the filing did not specify whether the 38-year-old would personally receive money as part of the settlement.
In addition, it has been reported that Queen Elizabeth II helped contribute to the settlement amount through a private fund, not through taxpayers' money, but the palace has refused to comment on the financials of Prince Andrew.
Prince Andrew will never be restored to a "position on the balcony" after settling a sexual abuse lawsuit with accuser Virginia Giuffre, according to one expert. (Reuters/Neil Hall)
"The queen, I think wisely, although I don't think she had to sell any jewelry. I don't think she pried open the tower to take out a tiara. But I think that he just didn't have that kind of money," Hay told Fox News Digital.
Hay believes the queen made Prince Andrew "pitch in," but speculates that ultimately Queen Elizabeth II "bailed him out."
"A little old to be rescued by money, but then that's exactly what happened," Hay said before alleging: "Mommy rescued him and bailed him out. … It's for the sake of her Jubilee, for the reputation of the crown, for [Prince] Charles, for Camilla. This was starting to overshadow all the news."
Despite the settlement, Prince Andrew never admitted to sexually assaulting Giuffre, which Hay believes could help him within the royal family.
"He doesn't admit to sleeping with her, let alone raping her," Hay said. "He admits to nothing, except that she has been acknowledged."
Giuffre had accused Prince Andrew of sexually abusing her on three separate occasions when she was under the age of 18 at the behest of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The case was set to go to trial in the fall of 2022. (Steve Parsons/Pool Photo via AP, File)
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In a joint letter filed in court by Prince Andrew's lawyers and Giuffre's lawyers, the royal's attorney did note that Giuffre was a victim of sexual abuse.
"Prince Andrew has never intended to malign Ms. Giuffre's character, and he accepts that she has suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks," the letter states.
"It is known that Jeffrey Epstein trafficked countless young girls over many years. Prince Andrew regrets his association with Epstein and commends the bravery of Ms. Giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others," the filing continues.
However, due to the settlement, Hay thinks it's unlikely that Prince Andrew would ever be given a position in the royal family.
"I don't believe Andrew will ever be restored to a position on the balcony," Hay said.
"They're never going to parade him around and be proud of him," he added.
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Prince Andrew did not admit to sexually abusing Giuffre when settling the lawsuit. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
Hay emphasized that he doesn't believe either Prince Charles or Prince William would ever restore Prince Andrew's military or philanthropic titles and honors, but noted Queen Elizabeth II could, depending on how things play out in the next couple of years.
"There's no guilty verdict. So on paper he's made a settlement," Hay told Fox News Digital. "And usually when people make these settlements, they say we just didn't want to put the Queen and the Crown or whoever … through a trial. And that's how they kind of explain the money being given out as opposed to 'We're guilty.'"
Fox News' Rebecca Rosenberg contributed to this report.
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