Royal Announcement on Andrew Seen as 'Vindication' for Giuffre, Says Her Family
The momentous statement from Buckingham Palace removing Prince Andrew of his royal status is seen as an "acknowledgment" that events happened to the late Virginia Giuffre, relatives have stated.
Through its announcement on the specified day, the royal establishment said that Andrew Mountbatten Windsor – as he is now known – will also leave his residence in Windsor, Royal Lodge, since his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein persist in generating public debate.
Their announcement ended with: “The King and Queen wish to make clear that their considerations and deepest empathy are and will continue to be with the affected individuals and those who endured of every forms of abuse.”
Family Reaction: Acknowledgment and Accountability
Asked whether the statement implied that the monarch trusts Virginia over Andrew, her brother Sky Roberts said: “Absolutely, in my view that he’s speaking very clearly in that announcement when he states he’s with survivors out there.
“This is an acknowledgment that events took place, incidents transpired. We are witnessing a change,” he added.
Giuffre’s sister-in-law, Amanda Roberts, commented: “Issuing such recognition out for survivors is significant. It's unprecedented that from other parties, and to acknowledge that there are survivors in this case is an acknowledgment that abuse took place.
“It is the very first step for that resolution for survivors. It is first the acknowledgment that events unfolded here. This involved genuine suffering that affected these adolescent females.”
Through a posthumous memoir, Giuffre – who died earlier this year – repeated allegations that, in her youth, she had intimate relations with Mountbatten Windsor on three separate occasions. He has consistently refuted any misconduct. He resolved a civil case with Giuffre for a reported £12m without accepting of responsibility.
She described the announcement by the royal family as a “triumph” and “justification on behalf of our sister”.
“We are so exceptionally proud of her, but then the sorrow strikes because you wish she was here to experience this moment alongside her – a moment that she has been anticipating, for a considerable period,” she added.
Support Organizations Respond: Powerful Message for Survivors
Women’s rights campaigners and advocacy groups also welcomed the move by the royal family, with some saying it conveyed an vital signal to those affected of abuse.
Gemma Sherrington, head of Refuge, said it was “highly impactful to see victims recognised so directly in a announcement from the palace”, adding that it sent a message that “victims are important, that their ordeals are believed, and that they merit to be at the heart of public discussions about mistreatment”.
Penny East, the chief executive at the Fawcett Society, commented “this is a positive acknowledgment that the true sufferers here are not discomfited officials or disgraced princes, but the females who were sexually assaulted by privileged, misogynistic men.”
However, she continued: “Removing a title, or relocating can never be considered true accountability or adequate consequence. Indeed, one brave woman, Virginia Giuffre, has passed away. It was a devastating event, and a reminder of the deep effect sexual assault has on female victims.”
Remembering Virginia Giuffre: A "Resolute Fighter"
Portraying Giuffre’s character and pursuit of truth, Sky said she was a “determined advocate” who could additionally be playful and humorous.
“This is an regular individual from an ordinary family that achieved something extraordinary and in my opinion that is something the global community should be admiring of.
“Giuffre was this strong warrior who refused to back down and spoke out courageously and now we are at last getting that recognition that she truly was a world hero.”
The palace declined to comment.
