🔗 Share this article

This momentous statement from Buckingham Palace stripping Prince Andrew of his royal status is regarded as an "acknowledgment" that something occurred to the late Virginia Giuffre, relatives have stated.

Through its announcement on the specified day, the palace said that the Duke of York – as he is now known – will also leave his residence in Windsor, Royal Lodge, as his connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continue to cause public debate.

The statement ended with: “The King and Queen wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies are and will continue to be with the affected individuals and those who endured of any and all forms of abuse.”

Family Response: Recognition and Accountability

Asked whether this suggested that the monarch believes Virginia over Andrew, Giuffre's sibling Sky Roberts remarked: “Absolutely, I think that he’s speaking distinctly in that announcement when he says he’s with survivors out there.

“This is an admission that events took place, something has happened. There has been a change,” he noted.

Giuffre’s sister-in-law, Amanda Roberts, said: “To put that acknowledgment out for survivors is significant. It's unprecedented that from other parties, and recognizing that there are survivors in this case is an affirmation that abuse took place.

“It is the very first step for that resolution for those impacted. It is first the acknowledgment that events unfolded here. There was genuine suffering that happened to these young girls.”

In a posthumous memoir, Giuffre – who died recently – repeated allegations that, as a teenager, she had intimate relations with the prince on three separate occasions. He has always denied any wrongdoing. He settled a civil case with Giuffre for a reported £12m without accepting of responsibility.

She described the announcement by the royal family as a “victory” and “justification on behalf of our sister”.

“We’re just extremely admiring of her, but then the sorrow hits because one hopes she was here to experience this occasion together with her – a time that she has been waiting for, for a very long time,” she added.

Support Organizations React: Significant Message for Victims

Gender equality campaigners and advocacy groups likewise welcomed the move by the royal family, with several indicating it conveyed an vital message to survivors of abuse.

A representative, head of Refuge, stated it was “incredibly powerful to see survivors recognised so directly in a announcement from the royal household”, adding that it sent a message that “victims are important, that their experiences are trusted, and that they deserve to be at the center of public conversations about abuse”.

Penny East, the director at the Fawcett Society, commented “it is a welcome acknowledgment that the real victims here are not discomfited officials or fallen royals, but the females who were sexually assaulted by entitled, prejudiced men.”

Nonetheless, she added: “Removing a title, or moving house can not be considered true accountability or adequate consequence. In fact, a courageous individual, Virginia Giuffre, has lost her life. It was a devastating event, and a reminder of the profound impact sexual assault has on women and girls.”

Remembering Virginia Giuffre: A "Resolute Fighter"

Portraying Giuffre’s personality and fight for justice, Sky expressed she was a “strong warrior” who could additionally be playful and goofy.

“This is an regular individual from an typical background that did something extraordinary and I think this is something the world ought to be proud of.

“She was this strong warrior who stood her ground and spoke out courageously and now we are finally receiving that recognition that she indeed represented a global icon.”

Royal officials declined to comment.