Prince Andrew's royal comeback dreams 'delusional' after Virginia Giuffre's death

Prince Andrew’s hopes for a royal comeback have officially been shut down and insiders say they were "delusional" to begin with.

The Duke of York, 64, has long harboured private hopes of rehabilitating his public image after settling a sexual assault lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre, one of Jeffrey Epstein’s most high-profile accusers. 

However, following Giuffre’s tragic death last Friday in Western Australia, sources say there’s no way back for Andrew.

Virginia Giuffre, 41, who accused Prince Andrew of sexually abusing her when she was 17, allegations he has always vehemently denied, was found unresponsive at her farm in Neergabby, near Perth. 

Police confirmed her death is not being treated as suspicious but remains under investigation.

A source told The Sun: "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."

Another insider added: "Andrew does deep down harbour hopes that he can make a comeback but they are delusional hopes."

Following her passing, Giuffre’s family released a heartbreaking statement saying she "lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking."

"She was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse," the statement read. "Despite all the adversity she faced in her life, she shone so bright. She will be missed beyond measure."

Virginia Giuffre is survived by her three children, described as "the light of her life."

Who was Virginia Giuffre?

Giuffre, originally known as Virginia Roberts, made international headlines as a key figure in exposing Epstein’s sex trafficking network. 

In 2021, she filed a lawsuit against Prince Andrew, and the case was settled out of court in early 2022 for an undisclosed sum, with no admission of liability from the prince.

Giuffre had been living in Australia for several years. Just weeks before her death, she posted about a serious accident involving a school bus, suggesting she had "four days to live," though her publicist later downplayed the post.

Details about the accident have not been confirmed.

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