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Earlier this week, Virginia Giuffre, the girl in that infamous photo with Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell (seen below), filed a civil lawsuit against Prince Andrew in federal court in New York.

Giuffre alleges that Prince Andrew sexually abused her at Jeffrey Epstein’s mansion in Manhattan, as well as at other locations, in 2001 when she was 17.

In the suit, she claims that she “was compelled by express or implied threats by Epstein, [Ghislaine] Maxwell, and/or Prince Andrew to engage in sexual acts with Prince Andrew, and feared death or physical injury to herself” if she did not comply.

Sadly, these claims have been public for years, which is exactly why Giuffre and her lawyer, David Boies, have taken to the court.

Sky News reports that Boies says the Duke of York has been entirely uncooperative:

Boies said the Duke of York and Blackfords, the law firm representing him, have failed to engage with him and his client Virginia Giuffre for five years.

Mr Boies said: “We’ve reached out to Prince Andrew’s legal team, a number of times over the last five years, we’ve made an attempt to engage with him to give him an opportunity to tell his side of the story, to provide any explanation or context, that he might have for his actions to try to resolve this without the necessity of litigation.

“Every such effort has been rebuffed.”

He added: “They have totally stonewalled us just like they’ve stonewalled the criminal prosecutors in the United States.

Some of Prince Andrew’s past comments may come back to haunt him, and he will never live down that truly disastrous BBC Newsnight interview.

Naturally, the Pizza Express connection will always follow him, and claims that the image above was potentially doctored have only served to further undermine his credibility and paint a picture of a desperate man.

Still, how about that Meghan and Harry, hey? Dragging the fine name of the Royal Family through the mud.

Back to the man accused of having had sex with multiple underage women, allegations which he has “absolutely and categorically” denied.

Buckingham Palace also called the allegations  “false and without foundation”, and Prince Andrew has just arrived for a holiday with the Queen at Balmoral.

The Daily Mail has images of him arriving here, as well as this information:

The beleaguered royal and his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, drove into the monarch’s private Scottish estate for their annual August jaunt while his lawyers held crisis talks…

His dog arrived at Balmoral in a separate car an hour earlier, suggesting the prince could be planning a lengthy stay.

Andrew, who normally flies to Aberdeen by private jet for his visits to Balmoral, appeared to have taken steps to avoid photographers this time after apparently flying to a different airport, or even driving the whole way.

Nothing like a 61-year-old man hiding out at his mum’s castle until the storm blows over.

As if things couldn’t get worse, The Telegraph reports that Ghislaine Maxwell is prepared to give evidence on behalf of Prince Andrew.

Ms Maxwell would herself need to be cleared of wrongdoing at her own trial if her evidence is to be considered credible in a New York courtroom.

“Ghislaine will be prepared to give evidence on the Duke’s behalf,” said a friend. “By the time the case against the Duke gets to court, Ghislaine will either be convicted and serving up to 85 years in jail [or if] cleared of course she would help Prince Andrew. They have been friends for a very long time. It is highly likely Ghislaine will offer to assist him.”

Just have to get over that little speed bump (child sex trafficking charges and a few others) and then she’s good to go, Andrew.

Non-cooperation from the Duke of York wouldn’t be in his best interests, either:

Should the Duke ignore the legal case, the suit would likely proceed in New York without his participation. Any trial in absentia would increase Ms Giuffre’s chances of winning, raising the horrifying prospect of the Queen’s second oldest son being branded a sex offender by a New York court and paying substantial damages.

As long as he doesn’t commit the ultimate crime of marrying an actress and moving to America.

The Royal Family has to draw the line somewhere.

Prince Andrew has repeatedly said that he never used to sweat, but I’d be willing to bet he’s feeling the pressure right about now.

[sources:sky&dmail&telegraph]