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Seven bizarre claims from Prince Andrew’s legal papers

The Duke of York has denied being a close friend of Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex trafficker, while his lawyers say he wants a trial by jury to contest the claim brought against him by Virginia Giuffre.

Andrew faces damages which could “easily” be in excess of £14m if he loses the civil case, according to lawyers.

The Duke has consistently denied all the allegations, and on Wednesday, his lawyers officially filed documents to court. A trial is scheduled for later this year.

Here are seven bombshells from Prince Andrew’s court documents.

1. Doesn’t admit to knowing whether Epstein was registered sex offender when he visited
2. Denies being close friends with Maxwell
3. Claims he wasn’t frequent guest of Epstein
4. Doesn’t know if Virginia Roberts picture exists
5. Doesn’t know if he invited Epstein to Beatrice’s 18th birthday
6. Doesn’t know whether he emailed Maxwell about Giuffre in 2015
7. Claims Guiffre and others were responsible for her own alleged abuse

Read the article in full here.

Andrew to get 'help from Kevin Spacey to clear his name'

PRINCE Andrew wants to turn to disgraced actor Kevin Spacey to try to clear his name, The Sun has been told.

The Duke wants to distance himself from convicted Ghislaine Maxwell, who was infamously pictured larking around in Buckingham Palace’s throne room with the shamed actor in 2002.

The VIP tour was organised by Andrew — but he wants Spacey to tell jurors it was he who invited pal Maxwell.

A source said: “Andrew had invited Spacey for the tour of the Palace. She came with him — not as a guest of Andrew’s.”

Spacey, 62, is said to be “high on a hit list of names” who Andrew’s legal team want to call on after he demanded a trial by jury over sex abuse allegations.

Fans happy as Kate swipes role from Harry

Following Prince Harry's decision to step down from royal duties, Kate Middleton is set to replace him in a key role.

The Duchess will take on the role of patron of the Rugby Football Union (RFU). This will put her at competition with her husband, Prince William, as he has been the patron of the Welsh Rugby Union since 2016.

Royal fans are delighted at the news, with them taking to Twitter to express their joy

One fan wrote: “Looking forward to seeing more “competition” between W&C. They have good fun with it!”

Another said: “That will be great fun when England play Wales. I can see them poking fun at each other.”

'No chance Harry would leave Spotify'

Spotify has been waiting more than a year for Meghan and Harry to produce further podcast content, having released just one 35 minute episode so far.

But any material they produce from now on will have to compete for hits against the Joe Rogan Experience – Spotify’s most listened to podcast.

Its host has suggested young people don’t need the Covid vaccine – which Angela Levin believes is the “exact opposite” to what Harry has plugged.

On whether he will reconsider his podcast, Angela, who spent a year working with Harry for an authorised biography, said: “I think there’s no chance Harry would leave [Spotify].

“One, because he has not left Netflix even though it has been incredibly rude about his mother and his father and all the Royal Family. He doesn't seem to care. 

“He also now has quite a reputation for being a hypocrite after lecturing us not to fly but flying himself on a private plane.

“He's been very angry about [the lack of access to vaccines in poorer country's] and is working with someone who is campaigning the exact opposite.”

Prince Andrew sex trial could cause ‘huge damage’ 

ROYAL insiders fear Prince Andrew's demand for a trial by jury in his civil sex case against Virginia Giuffre could cause “huge damage” to the monarchy.

The Duke of York sensationally insisted he would face a jury in New York in his battle against sex abuse claims bought against him by the 38-year-old.

Legal expert Mark Stephens told The Sun that the filing was “classic brinkmanship” from Andrew and his legal team.

But insiders fear that Andrew's “bullish” decision to face a jury and “clear his name” could have catastrophic affects on The Firm.

A royal source told The Mirror: “It’s the ultimate gamble. He is putting himself at the mercy of a jury.”

The source added that “questions will be asked about the wisdom of a bullish counter-attack” at this point.

Queen 'always forgives' Prince Andrew

A royal biographer has claimed that Prince Andrew was 'always forgiven' by the Queen and had a “radically different personality to his siblings.

Nigel Cawthorne wrote in the Daily Mail two years ago that Buckingham Palace staff found Andrew a “handful” from the very beginning.

He said: “He had seven nurseries in four palaces, endless sumptuous treats and far more of his mother’s attention.

“Somehow, Andrew was always forgiven — even when he sprinkled itching power in his mother’s bed or climbed on to the roof of Buckingham Palace to turn the TV aerial so that the Queen wouldn’t be able to watch the racing at Sandown Park.”

Another blow for Andrew as he gives up golf club membership

The Duke of York, 61, gave The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews “notification” he wished to hand back his membership, the club said yesterday.

Giving up his membership will be a humiliation for the duke who is a passionate golf fan, meeting many of the top names in the sport over the years.

Andrew will no longer enjoy the perks of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club, where the duke was regarded as being a member in a private capacity.

A spokesperson for the club, said: “I can confirm that The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews has received notification that the Duke of York will relinquish his honorary membership.

“We respect and appreciate his decision.”

Royal news you may have missed

• Prince Harry blasted for refusing to terminate £18m Spotify deal over Joe Rogan’s anti-vaccine views
• ‘Hypocrite’ Prince Harry doesn’t care about anti-vaxxers on Spotify – he won’t ditch £18m podcast deal, expert says
• Scruffy Prince Andrew told me to ‘f*** off’ when I thought he was an INTRUDER in Palace security scare, says ex-cop
• Prince Charles and William ‘in bid to stop Andrew fighting sex abuse case in court’

Queen resumes a royal tradition

The Queen will mark the beginning of her 70th year on the throne on February 6, but will also mark her father King George VI's death. 

Podcaster Christina Garibaldi said that this is a time of mourning for the Queen. 

Speaking on the Royally Us podcast, she said: “Queen Elizabeth, after months at Windsor Castle, she travelled to Sandringham to honor a tradition…70 years on the throne but this is also a time of mourning as well.

Co-host Christine Ross replied: “You would initially think this is a celebratory event for her but actually it is the anniversary of her father's death and I think her father died quite early.

“She was very very young so it was a huge transition for her so she tends to spend this day privately in a time of reflection, so she's gone up to Sandringham which is such an important place to her. 

“I think it really must feel like home for her, it's in such a beautiful setting in Norfolk normally, she goes up there in December ahead of the Christmas season but she stayed in Windsor for Christmas and for the New Year.”

Meg & Harry told to 'pump out some content'

A royal commentator has claimed that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been told to 'pump out some content' for their Spotify deal to pay for their mansion.

The royal couple signed a deal with Spotify in 2020, but have only released one podcast in that time. 

The Mail on Sunday’s assistant editor Kate Mansey warned that the couple need to work to maintain their “expensive lifestyle”. 

She said: “We've had one episode of the podcast, that's it.

“We thought we might hear something about it by now. Perhaps they haven't delivered what maybe some of the TV executives might have expected.

“Yes, they're some reasonably big names but they are going to want, 'bang for their buck' as the Americans say and if that's not being delivered, they're going to start looking at the contract.

“They've got this massive mansion but it’s not all paid for. Their lifestyle is very expensive and if they want to carry on acting like these super-celebrities, they’re going to have to start bringing the money in.”

Virginia Giuffre could be asked highly-detailed questions

It is understood Ms Giuffre could be subject to highly-detailed questions of a sexual nature, including lurid details about positions, Andrew's body and his “performance”.

The royal could still reach an out of court settlement in the case, with princes Charles, 73, and William, 39, leading efforts to persuade him to stop the case dragging on to protect the family from further humiliation – according to royal sources.

But a source said: “The Duke will be ready to defend himself in court.”

Kate set to wow fans at Platinum Jubilee event

A royal expert has claimed that Kate Middleton is set to wow fans at the Queen's Platinum Jubilee with a special performance.

The Duchess of Cambridge surprised fans when she performed a surprise piano piece during the Together at Christmas carol concert and Neil Sean has suggested she may surprise again.

Speaking on his Youtube channel, he said: “Everybody in the inner circle of the royals are hoping that Kate may have a reprieve and wish to do something very similar again in June this year.

“Apparently that has gone down so well they're now looking at redoing something rather different this time with Kate once again taking to the keys.

“I'm not sure if she's going to be teaming up with someone but of course who would not want to be part of such a wonderful achievement of 70 years on the throne?

“We know Kate and the Queen are very close indeed and if that's one of her wishes I think Kate certainly will oblige.”

Andrew's case in media could eclipse Queen's Platinum jubilee 

Media lawyer Mark Stephens said he “can't conceive” that the trial, which is already attracting international attention and media frenzy, will be allowed to go on and risk eclipsing the Platinum Queen's jubilee next month.

However, palace staff are ploughing on with the event, and are said to be doing “all they can” not to let Andrew's issues ruin the milestone.

He said: “It’s going to spark debate about the relevancy and appropriateness of the royal family”, adding: “The more detail that comes out the more there’s going to be a problem for the wider royal family.”

'Andrew had this nasty side to him'

Paul Page, who served as a Royal protection officer at the Palace for six years, and speaking to The Sun Online, Page said he never had any issues with any other member of the Royal Family.

He added: “I never had any problems with any other members of the Royal Family in my time at Buckingham Palace. The Queen is a lovely lady.

“But Prince Andrew had this nasty side to him, he treated staff terribly. He got away with it for so long.”

Charles & William ‘in bid to stop Andrew fighting case'

Princes Charles, 73, and William, 39, are leading efforts to persuade him to stop the case dragging on to protect the family from further humiliation, royal sources say.

A Royal source told The Sun: “After the car crash of Newsnight no-one thinks a seven-hour deposition is a good idea. If he were to appear in court it could be many times worse and senior royals were deeply shocked when they heard that he was demanding a jury trial.

“The best outcome for everyone is that this is settled as soon as possible. There are deep, deep worries that this will get worse and worse for the family and will overshadow Platinum Jubilee celebrations.”

Andrew's 11 page document

Ms Giuffre has accused the Duke of forcing her to sleep with him more than 20 years ago at the home of convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.

The mum-of-three alleged in court documents that she was procured by Maxwell, 57, the daughter of disgraced tycoon Robert Maxwell, as a teenage “sex slave” for Epstein.

In an 11 page document, lawyers for Andrew set out the duke's response to Ms Giuffre's allegations.

It says he denies the allegation that he sexually abused Ms Giuffre when she was under 18 years of age.

The legal reply, submitted to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, also sets out a series of defences “without assuming the burden of proof, and expressly denying any and all wrongdoing”.

This includes arguments that the claim should be dismissed because Ms Giuffre is a permanent resident of Australia and that by entering into the 2009 agreement with Jeffrey Epstein she “waived the claims now asserted in the complaint”.

The document concludes: “Prince Andrew hereby demands a trial by jury on all causes of action asserted in the Complaint.”

Harry previously begged for vaccine equity

Just four months ago, Harry hit out at news and social media outlets for “peddling lies” about vaccines, claiming the only way to “overcome” Covid was to “break the system” of misinformation.

And he has also openly begged for vaccine equity, saying the vaccine should be distributed “to everyone everywhere”.

The duke is now facing calls to step back from Spotify over the “hypocrisy” of working alongside Joe Rogan's podcast.

'Prince Andrew told me to ‘f*** off’'

A “SCRUFFY” Prince Andrew wearing a tracksuit told stunned royal cops to “f*** off” after the Duke sparked a security scare outside the Queen's bedroom at Buckingham Palace, an officer has claimed.

Paul Page, who served as a Royal protection officer at the Palace for six years, also described the prince as “rude” and “a bully”.

Speaking to The Sun Online, Page said the alleged incident happened in the early 2000s.

“It was at night, and we were checking CCTV in the control room when we saw a man walking along the corridor in the Queen's private quarters,” he said.

“Her Majesty was not at Buckingham Palace at the time, so this was a major potential security scare.

“A sergeant, myself, and two other police officers went to her apartments to investigate.

“We approached from either end of the corridor so we could surround the potential intruder. But when we got there, we realised it was Prince Andrew.”

Page went on: “He looked scruffy and was wearing a tracksuit.

“I apologised and said, 'I'm sorry, your Highness, we went to investigate a possible intruder in Her Majesty's apartments'.

“Andrew replies, 'This is my house, I go where I want, now f*** off'.”

'Hypocrite’ Harry doesn’t care – he won’t ditch £18m Spotify podcast

'HYPOCRITE' Prince Harry doesn't care about anti-vaxxers on Spotify – and he won't ditch his £18million deal with the streaming giant, an expert has said.

Royal biographer Angela Levin believes he “does not care” and will “never leave” the money making gig.

Angela told the Sun Online: “Harry has been accusing many countries, including the United Kingdom for not doing enough to vaccinate people around the world in poor countries.

“Now here he is working and earning money from a company [who have employed someone] who is an anti-vaxxer.

“It doesn't make any sense, but it does conform with his regular hypocrisy.”

'I’ve got docs that prove Andrew & Maxwell were pals'

This is an article by Christopher Warwick.

One of the most astonishing centres on the authenticity of the now infamous photograph, taken by Jeffrey Epstein in March 2001, of Andrew with his hand round Guiffre’s waist and a smiling Maxwell in the background.

That it is being challenged – though not for the first time in this unedifying saga – is because Prince Andrew, who claims to have no memory of it being taken, “lacks sufficient information to admit or deny the allegation that there exists photographic evidence of his alleged meeting with Giuffre”.

But if that isn’t photographic evidence – and why would anyone go to the trouble of fabricating such an image at a time when today’s unimagined court action still lay 10 years distant – then what is?

Difficult to believe, too, when they were guests at the splendid Decades Birthday dance – at which I was also a guest – held by the Queen and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle in June 2000.

Read the article in full here.

Prince Andrew's 'declaration of war'

US attorney Lisa Bloom who defended some of Jeffrey Epstein's victims shared her thoughts following Prine Andrew's demand of a 'trial by jury'.

She said: “He does have a lot to overcome.

“I'll tell you something else significant in the answer filed. He asserts some defence called unclean hands and estoppel, which is essentially that Virginia has done bad things, Virginia has a chequered past.

“He is indicating it's going to be a full attack on Virginia.

The argument is because she's done bad things in the past, therefore she should not be able to recover against him.

“From a legal point of view, that doesn't work in a child sexual abuse case – if you sexually abused a child, it doesn't matter what they might have done in their lives.

“As a matter of law, I don't think it's a particularly good defence. But as a matter of strategy, now we know.

“We wondered, 'are they going to treat her with kid gloves, or are they going to come out full throttle and go after her.'

And it's the latter, it's really a declaration of war.”

Andrew's civil sex trial 'threatens the Monarchy' says lawyer

The Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations will be “overshadowed” by the Duke of York's civil sex trial and lead to questions about the “relevancy” of the royal family, a leading lawyer has said.

Media lawyer Mark Stephens said Andrew would also face detailed questions of a sexual nature when he gives evidence, whether in person or via video link, in the jury trial expected towards the end of the year.

But depending on developments, there was still the prospect the duke may reach an out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre who is suing the Queen's son for sexual assault. The duke denies the allegations.

Mr Stephens said any trial could have far-reaching consequences for the wider royal family.

He said: “I can't conceive that the royal family will allow him to run this case and overshadow the Platinum Jubilee.

“It's going to spark debate about the relevancy and appropriateness of the royal family and we've already seen that they moved very fast to strip him of his titles and that debate abated but the more detail that comes out the more there's going to be a problem for the wider royal family.”

Harry under fire for refusing to terminate £18m Spotify deal

PRINCE Harry is under pressure to end his £18million Spotify deal after the streaming giant was accused of promoting anti-vaxxer content.

Harry, 37, is set to release podcasts on the same platform as Covid jab sceptic Joe Rogan.

Yet just four months ago the Duke of Sussex hit out at news and social media outlets for “peddling lies” about vaccines.

He claimed the only way to “overcome” Covid-19 was to “break the system” of misinformation.

Last night a source said of Harry: “Refusing to cut ties with Spotify after they’ve aired anti-vaxxer material is incredibly two-faced.

“If he was that principled, and meant what he said, he’d cut ties, even if at a personal financial cost.”

Andrew 'trying to have his cake and eat it'

Legal expert Mark Stephens told The Sun that the filing was “classic brinkmanship” from Andrew and his legal team.

Solicitor Mr Stephens said: “He is trying to have his cake and eat it, to go with a modern theme.”

It comes just weeks after Judge Lewis Kaplan threw out his lawyers attempts to derail the case by lodging a motion to dismiss claiming she had signed an agreement in 2009 not to pursue.

Andrew was previously thought to be seeking an out-of-court settlement with Roberts after Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled he must stand trial in the US.

The figure was estimated to be up to £10million ($13million) — the amount he will get from selling his chalet in Verbier, Switzerland.

Jubilee item sells out in seconds

THE QUEEN has sparked a shopping frenzy after one particular Jubilee item sold out within seconds of it going live.

A new range of commemorative items to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee were released on the official Royal Collection website.

The limited-edition set of champagne saucers were out of stock just moments after being advertised to shoppers. The glasses, sold in pairs, cost £120 and are engraved with the EIIR cypher and olive branch emblem of the Platinum Jubilee.

However, there were only 70 available in the first place – the same number of years the Queen has held her position for.