The family of Virginia Giuffre, the woman who publicly accused Prince Andrew of sexual assault, have welcomed his arrest and thanked police for what they described as a long-awaited step toward accountability.
Andrew, formally known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested by Thames Valley Police at his residence in Sandringham on Wednesday, February 19.
In an emotional statement released to CBS News, Giuffre’s family said:
“At last, today, our broken hearts have been lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty.”
They added:
“On behalf of our sister, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, we extend our gratitude to the UK’s Thames Valley Police for their investigation, and the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. He was never a prince. For survivors everywhere, Virginia did this for you.”
Giuffre died by suicide at the age of 41 at her home in Australia in April 2025.
She became one of the most prominent figures linked to the scandal surrounding convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after alleging that Epstein trafficked her to have sex with Andrew when she was underage. A photograph showing Giuffre standing alongside the then-Prince Andrew has become one of the most notorious images associated with the case.
Andrew has consistently denied ever meeting Giuffre and has rejected all allegations of wrongdoing. He has also previously claimed the photograph is fake.
In 2022, Andrew reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre reportedly worth around £12 million. The agreement did not include any admission of liability.
Following news of the arrest, former Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf paid tribute to Giuffre on X, writing:
“Due process matters but so does accountability. For far too long, wealth, titles and status have protected men. It is down to the bravery of Epstein’s victims, like Virginia Giuffre, that there is some scrutiny on those who associated with him.”