01 January 2023 , 08:38
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A gagging clause signed by Prince Andrew and his sex abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre is due to be lifted in the coming months, it is reported.
The Duke of York stepped down from royal duties and the late Queen stripped him of his military affiliations and patronages in the wake of a sex scandal last year.
Ms Giuffre alleged she was sexually abused by Prince Andrew in three locations, the first at Ghislaine Maxwell's London home, then Jeffrey Epstein's Manhattan townhouse and in the Virgin Islands.
He denied the allegations against him and later came to an out of court settlement, reportedly worth around £9.8 million, with his accuser.
The settlement is not an admission of guilt and Prince Andrew continues to deny any wrongdoing.
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The Duke of York has always denied the allegations against him (PA)The agreement contained a 12-month gagging clause which will come to an end in late February, reports The Telegraph.
A friend of the Duke previously said: "If you’re going to go for legal resolution at those sorts of prices then you want silence - but what we’ve got is silence for the Platinum Jubilee."
Although the exact terms of the deal are not yet known, it is believed that Ms Giuffre may have agreed not to speak about the Duke publicly or repeat her accusations about him.
It comes just days after it was reported that King Charles is throwing the Duke of York out of Buckingham Palace.
Virginia Giuffre came to an out of court settlement with the Duke (PA)
It is believed that Ms Giuffre may have agreed not to speak about the Duke publicly (TNS via Getty Images)According to a source, Prince Andrew will no longer have an office there or be allowed to use it as a corresponding address.
It is unclear what will happen to the staff in his office at the palace.
Skeleton staff still remain there after he stepped down from public duties following the fallout from his disastrous BBC interview with Emily Maitlis, where he was questioned about his friendship with Epstein.
In an effort to repair what is left of his reputation, Andrew is reportedly recruiting a new communication team and will be expected to foot the bill.
A source told The Sun : “Any presence at the Palace is officially over. The King has made it clear. He isn’t a working royal. He’s on his own.”
The Duke of York stepped down from royal duties last year (PA)
Ms Giuffre with a photo of herself as a teenager (Zuma Press/PA Images)It is believed that Andrew will keep the 31-bed Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate.
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Meanwhile, the Duke's older brother is said to be shouldering the costs of his security.
Prince Andrew will lose the privilege of protection from the Met Police which is paid for by the public as he does not perform royal duties.
Instead private security will reportedly take over the disgraced prince’s protection at a cost of around £3 million a year which is believed to be paid for by the monarch.
Norman Baker, former Home Office minister and Privy Council member, previously told how “armed protection has always been a status symbol for the likes of Prince Andrew."
He added: “We shouldn’t pay for Andrew’s or Harry’s security or any member of the Royal Family that carries out no public duties.”
The Mirror has contacted the Duke's spokesperson for comment.