The family of Virginia Giuffre, who accused Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of sexual abuse, is heading into a legal showdown over who will inherit her multi-million-dollar estate.
The 41-year-old’s death in April at her farm near Perth, Australia, has left her substantial fortune without a clear heir.
Ms Giuffre died intestate, meaning she left no will.
This has triggered a complex legal struggle over her wealth, which included payouts from high-profile civil cases linked to allegations of trafficking by Ghislaine Maxwell to Jeffrey Epstein and claims against Prince Andrew.
High-Profile Settlements Shaped Her Fortune
Among Ms Giuffre’s legal victories was a settlement from Prince Andrew, reportedly around £12 million, made in 2022 to resolve a civil case.
Importantly, the payment did not include any admission of wrongdoing, and Andrew has consistently denied all allegations.
Sources suggest part of this payout may have been funded by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
In addition, she received $500,000 from Epstein in 2009 after settling claims of sex trafficking and abuse, and an undisclosed sum from Maxwell in 2017, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence in the US.
Estrangement From Her Husband Complicates Matters
Under Western Australia’s inheritance laws, Ms Giuffre’s husband, Robert Giuffre, would normally be entitled to a lump sum and a third of her estate.
However, emails reportedly sent to her lawyer indicate she did not want him to inherit anything after he filed for divorce two months before her death.
The couple had been estranged for some time, with Robert remaining in the $2.5 million beachside home she owned, one of four properties including her Neergabby farmhouse.
Ms Giuffre had described him as controlling, and she claimed an assault by him had sent her to the hospital in January.
Diaries she kept revealed her fears: “The stronger I became, the scarier he became.”
Despite this, Robert was later granted a restraining order against her and temporary custody of their younger children.
He has so far declined to comment publicly about the estate, and his lawyers have avoided addressing the abuse allegations because of ongoing legal proceedings.
Siblings Step Into the Fray
Ms Giuffre’s younger brother, Sky Roberts, and half-brother, Danny Wilson, have hired legal counsel to challenge Robert’s claim.
They also aim to manage her charity, Speak Out, Act, Reclaim (SOAR), which supports survivors of sex trafficking.
Several million pounds from Prince Andrew’s settlement were pledged to SOAR, but are still held in a bank account managed by a third party.
Her paternal aunt, Kimberly Roberts, disputes the siblings’ claim to the money.
“We don’t believe they have a right to it.
The estate should go to her children only,” she told the Telegraph.
Her sons, Christian (19) and Noah (18), attempted earlier this year to assume control of the estate’s administration.
Court Appoints Interim Estate Manager
On Monday, Western Australia’s Supreme Court appointed lawyer Ian Torrington Blatchford as interim administrator of the estate, following legal challenges by Giuffre’s lawyer Karrie Louden and housekeeper Cheryl Myers.
This decision allows multiple disputes over the estate to proceed, alongside civil cases like a defamation lawsuit from Rina Oh, who alleges Ms Giuffre misrepresented her involvement with Epstein.
Blatchford has also been authorized to manage matters related to Ms Giuffre’s memoir, Nobody’s Girl, published in October.
The book sparked immediate attention for its allegations against Andrew and personal revelations about her father, Sky Roberts, which he denies.
Western Australia Police have confirmed that Ms Giuffre’s death is not being treated as suspicious, despite conspiracy theories.
Public Scrutiny on Prince Andrew Continues
Meanwhile, public calls for accountability continue.
A recent YouGov poll showed 75% of Britons believe Andrew should testify before US Congress about his connections to Jeffrey Epstein.
Despite promising cooperation during his infamous Newsnight interview, he has yet to provide testimony.
The UK Prime Minister has emphasized that anyone with relevant information should assist investigators, underscoring the ongoing spotlight on Andrew’s role in the Epstein scandal.
Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn