THE BBC’s royal correspondent has suggested that the route back to public life for Prince Andrew is to become a campaigner against sex trafficking.
Nicholas Witchell was speaking on the channel about the Duke of York’s future after he agreed an out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre in a civil sexual abuse case in the US.
Witchell admitted that it was difficult to see a future for the Queen’s son back into the public realm.
“What of Andrews future?” the BBC News journalist asked. “Could there possibly be a route back to a public role?
READ MORE: Prince Andrew reaches out-of-court 'settlement' in civil sex case
“I have to say it's hard right now to see one.”
Witchell said Prince Andrew, known as the Earl of Inverness in Scotland, had been shown to have had “poor judgement" and a “poor choice of friends”.
He went on: “And the brutal fact is, would anyone actually want him? Would any charities and he regiments and so on, want to be associated with him after all of this?
Nicholas Witchell suggests a route back to public life for Andrew could be campaigning for the victims of sex trafficking. I'm not sure I see it, personally! pic.twitter.com/toooVppG0o
— Michael Walker (@michaeljswalker) February 15, 2022
“For all that there's no admission of liability.”
Witchell then suggested a route back for the Duke: “Perhaps the answer is, as [Prince Andrew] says at the end of this statement, for him, as he says, to pledge to support the fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims, perhaps that offers the best, perhaps even the only, route back for him.”
The BBC journalist has been criticised for his remarks, with one viewer labelling it an “unbearable” response.
Another suggested it was a “sick suggestion” while another said “there is no way back” for the Duke.
One person said the comment ”blows my mind” and another replied to the clip saying “you are having a laugh”.
The remark comes after the Duke of York agreed to make a “substantial donation” to Virginia Giuffre’s charity after the pair agreed an undisclosed out-of-court settlement in her civil sex claim against him.
In a letter submitted on behalf of both parties to the United States District Court on Tuesday, Andrew’s legal representatives said he has “never intended to malign Giuffre’s character” and that he “regrets his association” with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The agreement states the duke will donate to charity in support of victims’ rights and that he has pledged to “demonstrate his regret for his association with Epstein” by supporting the “fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims”.
From left: Prince Andrew, Virginia Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell
Giuffre, also known as Virginia Roberts, made the claim against Andrew for damages in her home country of the US, claiming she was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein, Andrew’s friend, to have sex with the royal when she was 17, a minor under US law.
Although the parties have settled the case, the agreement is not an admission of guilt from the duke and he has always strenuously denied the allegations against him.
An attachment to the letter announcing the settlement gave brief details of the agreement between Andrew and Giuffre but indicated the sum would not be disclosed.
It read: “Virginia Giuffre and Prince Andrew have reached an out of court settlement.
“The parties will file a stipulated dismissal upon Ms Giuffre’s receipt of the settlement (the sum of which is not being disclosed).
“Prince Andrew intends to make a substantial donation to Ms Giuffre’s charity in support of victims’ rights.
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“Prince Andrew has never intended to malign Ms Giuffre’s character, and he accepts that she has suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks.
“It is known that Jeffrey Epstein trafficked countless young girls over many years.
“Prince Andrew regrets his association with Epstein, and commends the bravery of Ms Giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others.
“He pledges to demonstrate his regret for his association with Epstein by supporting the fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims.”
Responding to the settlement, one of Giuffre’s lawyers, David Boies, said: “I believe this event speaks for itself.”
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