Prince Andrew bid to rejoin royals would have been ‘upsetting' for Virginia before death, says Epstein victims' lawyer
VIRGINIA Giuffre would have been "very upset" by Prince Andrew's bid to rejoin the royal fold, a lawyer for Jeffrey Epstein's victims has said.
Days before Virginia, 41, was found dead, the Duke of York was seen joining the King at Windsor Castle for a service on Easter Sunday.
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It was his first public appearance in a year, and it could have been "upsetting" for Virginia - who accused Andrew, 65, of sexually abusing her when she was 17.
Lisa Bloom, who represents eight of vile Epstein 's victims, told The Sun: "It's always triggering for my clients to see pictures of somebody they say abused them, especially just out living a good life.
"It's very upsetting. I generally tell my clients don't follow him. Don't follow the news about him.
"But when it's a high profile person, that's very difficult because the news sometimes finds you, even if you're not looking for it.
"So it very possibly could have triggered her. We may not ever know unless she told somebody or had a journal.
"We just may not know, but I'm sure it was upsetting to her if she saw it."
Mum-of-three Virginia was found dead was found dead at her remote farm home in Neergabby, Western Australia, on the night of April 25.
Her family said she took her own life as they hailed her as a "fierce warrior".
They added: "She was heroic and will always be remembered for her incredible courage and loving spirit.
"In the end, the toll of abuse is so heavy that it became unbearable for Virginia to handle its weight. We know that she is with the angels."
Prince Andrew has 'no way back' into royal life after Virginia Giuffre's tragic death - despite 'deluded' comeback plans
Five days before her death, Andrew appeared jovial and confident at an Easter Sunday service, joining the King and Queen for photos.
But the reclusive prince missed his regular Saturday morning horse-ride on the Windsor estate as Virginia's sudden death was announced.
Virginia was a victim of convicted paedophile Epstein and his enabler Ghislaine Maxwell - and claims she was trafficked to Andrew.
She sued Andrew in 2021, claiming she was forced to have sex with the Duke on three occasions when she was a teen.
Virginia alleged was made to have sex with Andrew for the first time at Maxwell's house in London after a night out at the club Tramp.
The mum also claimed she was forced to have sex with the Duke on at least two further occasions by Maxwell and Epstein.
The royal has always vehemently denied allegations.
'No way back' for Andrew
Exclsuive by Matt Wilkinson and Ryan Parry
PRINCE Andrew's 'delusional' comeback dreams are over after the death of his sex abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre, insiders say.
He remained silent on her suicide as a source said: 'The door to a return is firmly closed.'
Just weeks before her death, sources close to the Duke claimed the King's brother was 'completely unsurprised' that an Instagram message saying that Virginia had four days to live after a road crash 'turned out to be a fabrication'.
She said she was admitted to hospital after her car was hit by a bus. But police in Australia said they only had reports of a 'minor crash' with no injuries sustained.
Other friends had suggested her admission in November 2022 that she 'may have made a mistake' in alleging that paedophile US tycoon Jeffrey Epstein had trafficked her to lawyer Alan Dershowitz could have offered a way out for Andy.
One insider told The Sun yesterday: 'Any notion that the message or her bus crash story could somehow make her an unreliable witness has now disappeared. The door is firmly closed on any return.'
There are now calls for him to 'honour' his words when he paid millions to Virginia in 2022 and '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'.
Andy's office and Buckingham Palace both released public statements during the Duke's highly-damaging China spy drama after court documents revealed his links to alleged spook Chris Yang.
But they have been silent since Virginia took her own life.
But royal sources insist that he will never return to be a working royal after he was stripped of his titles and roles by the late Queen Elizabeth due to the allegations and links to the late Epstein.
One insider said: 'Andrew does deep down harbour hopes that he can make a comeback — but they are delusional hopes.'
In 2022, he paid millions in an out of court settlement to Virginia - without any admission of guilt.
The King's brother released a statement saying he "regrets his association with Epstein" and "commends the bravery of Ms Giuffre and other survivors".
Andrew, however, still dodges calls to tell the FBI what he knows about Epstein, who died in prison while awaiting trial in 2019.
Bloom has now warned that Virginia's death could lead to more heartbreak for other victims.
The top attorney said sexual abuse victims often suffer from low self-esteem for life - which some never get over.
She said: "Sexual abuse and sex trafficking victims have very high rates of suicide, and many of my clients have talked to me about it.
"I have lost a client to suicide.
"I don't know what it is about sexual abuse that makes women victims feel like they're not worthy of living, their self esteem is just destroyed.
"Even someone like Virginia, who was very loved in the sexual assault community... that she would feel so low that she took her own life. Sadly very, very common."
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Lisa insisted "there is still a lot of work to do" to protect sexual abuse victims.
She added: "I hope everybody knows that it does get better, that life has highs and lows, and if you can get past the lows, it usually will improve and get better.
"And remember the people who love you, and who care about you, your family, your friends, and I always tell my client don't let him win.
"Living a good life is your best revenge. Living a good, happy life that you deserve is the best thing you can do to overcome, but not everybody can."
Virginia's death came weeks after she was treated in an Australian hospital following a bus crash.
She sparked alarm last month after posting a bruised snap from her hospital bed, claiming she had just 'four days to live'.
But the story took a twist when Western Australian Police described the crash as minor and said no major injuries were reported.
She later claimed the incident was blown out of proportion due to a misunderstanding.
Her father Sky Roberts clarified: 'Doctors told Virginia she would have died within four days had she not received medical treatment.'
Who was Virginia Giuffre?
VIRGINIA Roberts - later Virginia Giuffre, 41, was an American-Australian campaigner and a prominent victim of the sex trafficking ring of Jeffrey Epstein.
She made claims against Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, as well as Brit socialite Ghislaine Maxwell - Jeffrey Epstein's ex-lover.
Giuffre alleged in court documents that she was procured by Maxwell, 63, the daughter of disgraced tycoon Robert Maxwell, as a teenage 'sex slave' for Epstein.
She released a manuscript just hours before Epstein's death, which added to more than 2,000 documents of a lawsuit pending against the former financier and his pals.
The legal documents were released in a defamation case involving Giuffre, who has claimed in court documents that Prince Andrew slept with her three times.
In 2019, Virginia Roberts claimed that she had sex with Prince Andrew in a toilet when she was 17, after a night where he had allegedly been plying her with vodka in a posh London club.
On February 15, 2022, it was announced that Prince Andrew settled the lawsuit - sparing him a humiliating court battle.
She died by suicide on April 25, 2025 at her home in Western Australia.
You're Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You're Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
HUMEN www.wearehumen.org
Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
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