The Truth About Virginia Giuffre, Prince Andrew's Accuser

Wpa Pool/Getty Images

By Haley Van Horn/Jan. 13, 2022 4:05 pm EST

The Jeffrey Epstein sexual assault scandal has been gripping the world since he was arrested and eventually died in his prison cell in 2019 (via the BBC). As more and more information regarding the case came out, the public couldn't help but wish for justice. It seemed that it would finally come when his partner in crime, Ghislaine Maxwell, was found guilty on charges of child sex trafficking in late 2021 (via Insider).

One of the most gripping accusations has come from Virginia Giuffre, who has explained the horrible things she allegedly experienced at the hands of Epstein and Prince Andrew. The accusations are so serious that the prince has been stripped of all military titles and will have to face his sexual assault trial as a private citizen (via the Independent).

Buckingham Palace issued a statement that read, "With the Queen's approval and agreement, The Duke of York's military affiliations and royal patronage have been returned to the Queen," adding, "The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen."

As more information is learned about the accusations against Prince Andrew, the public has become more interested in learning about Giuffre, his victim.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Her encounter with Epstein, Maxwell, and Prince Andrew took away her childhood

Bloomberg/Getty Images

Giuffre has been tormented by the events that unfolded earlier in her life. She was working as a locker attendant at Donald Trump's infamous resort, Mar-a-Largo, when she met Epstein and Maxwell (via the BBC). She told the network, "They seemed like nice people so I trusted them, and I told them I'd had a really hard time in my life up until then — I'd been a runaway, I'd been sexually abused, physically abused ... That was the worst thing I could have told them because now they knew how vulnerable I was."

Epstein and Maxwell would go on to take advantage of Giuffre, making her do sexually explicit things to Prince Andrew. She told the BBC, "It was a really scary time in my life ... I wasn't chained to a sink, but these powerful people were my chains."

Eventually, Epstein and Maxwell let her go because she was too old for them, she claims. Now, she wants to see legal action taken against Prince Andrew (per Town and Country). She is taking her alleged abuser to court for a civil trial, but she does not want to see only financial gain from the matter. She wants to see her accusations against the prince vindicated in the courtroom.