Article image

The Duke's Digital War: Virginia Giuffre's posthumous memoir and the crisis of the peerage

The Mirage of Peace in Gaza's Second Act

Monday, 20 October 2025 12:08

Abstract

The posthumous publication of Virginia Giuffre's memoir has reignited the controversy surrounding Prince Andrew, Duke of York, with a new, explosive allegation that his team attempted to hire internet trolls to harass her. This revelation, coupled with claims of a separate smear campaign, has intensified political pressure on the British government and the monarchy to formally strip the Prince of his remaining hereditary titles, forcing a confrontation with the archaic legal mechanisms governing the peerage.

Historical Context

Recent Findings

A Voice from Beyond the Grave

The release of Virginia Giuffre’s memoir, *Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice*4,17, has cast a fresh and deeply unsettling shadow over the British royal family and the Duke of York10. The book, co-written with journalist Amy Wallace4, was completed before Ms Giuffre’s death by suicide in April 20253,4,11,17. Its publication, scheduled for Tuesday, October 22, 20254,11,21, arrives at a moment when the Prince had already been forced to relinquish the use of his titles and honours18. The memoir provides an expanded and harrowing account of Ms Giuffre’s experiences, detailing how she was allegedly trafficked by the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his former partner, Ghislaine Maxwell2,3,4. Ms Giuffre first encountered Epstein in the summer of 2000, weeks before her seventeenth birthday, while working at a spa at the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida2,4. She recounts how Epstein and Maxwell, whom she describes as a “master manipulator”4, preyed on her vulnerabilities, offering a false “lifeline” to a girl who had experienced a traumatic childhood4. The book alleges that she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew on three separate occasions3,11. One of these alleged encounters took place in March 2001 at Ms Maxwell’s London flat, where the now-infamous photograph of the Prince with his arm around Ms Giuffre’s waist was taken10,19,21. She claims she was paid $15,000 for “servicing” the Prince11. The Prince has consistently and vehemently denied all of Ms Giuffre’s allegations of sexual assault and has maintained that he has no recollection of ever meeting her3,10,19,21.

The Allegation of Digital Harassment

The most immediate and politically damaging revelation in the memoir is the claim concerning a campaign of digital harassment10,19,21,23. Ms Giuffre wrote that after casting doubt on her credibility for a prolonged period, Prince Andrew’s “team had even gone so far as to try to hire internet trolls to hassle me”10. This allegation suggests a deliberate, organised effort to undermine her reputation and mental well-being in the public sphere, extending the controversy beyond the original claims of sexual assault and into the realm of modern information warfare10,23. The context for this alleged action is the protracted legal battle that culminated in a civil settlement10. Ms Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit against the Prince in New York on August 9, 202116, alleging that she was forced to have sexual encounters with him in the early 2000s16. The Prince’s legal team initially attempted to have the case dismissed, citing a previously secret $500,000 settlement Ms Giuffre had reached with Epstein in 20097,16. However, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan rejected this attempt on January 12, 2022, allowing the lawsuit to proceed16. The prospect of the Prince giving a sworn deposition and facing a public trial was averted when an out-of-court settlement was reached on February 15, 20227,13,15. The settlement, for an undisclosed sum reported to be as high as £12 million12, included a “substantial donation” to Ms Giuffre’s charity for victims’ rights7,12,13. Crucially, the settlement contained no admission of guilt from the Prince7,13,15. The memoir’s new claims of a coordinated online attack now place the Prince’s associates under renewed scrutiny regarding the tactics employed during the legal and public relations fight10,23. Furthermore, the Metropolitan Police confirmed they are “actively looking into” separate claims that the Prince passed Ms Giuffre’s date of birth and social security number to a personal protection officer in 2011, allegedly to facilitate a smear campaign to “dig up dirt” on her10,14,19,21,23.

The Political Demand for Deprivation

The new allegations have immediately intensified the political campaign to formally strip the Prince of his remaining hereditary titles5,9,14. On Friday, October 17, 2025, the Prince announced that, following discussions with King Charles III, he would cease using his titles and honours, including the Duke of York title, the Earl of Inverness, the Baron Killyleagh, and his knighthood as a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter9,14,18,20. This voluntary renunciation, however, does not legally remove the titles, which remain extant but inactive18,20. The only mechanism to permanently remove a peerage, whether royal or not, is through an Act of Parliament9,14,20. Rachael Maskell, the Labour MP for York Central, has been the most vocal proponent of legislative action, arguing that the city of York, which she represents, is a “human rights city” that should not be associated with the disgraced royal5,9. Ms Maskell has called for a change in the law to grant the monarch the power to remove titles, or for a joint parliamentary committee to make such a recommendation5,9,18,20. She has previously sought to introduce a ‘Removal of Titles Bill’ to address this legal lacuna9,14,18,20. The Scottish National Party’s Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, has also publicly supported the need for an Act of Parliament, stating that the public deserves to know that MPs “share their outrage”5,14. The Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, a senior government minister, indicated that Parliament should consider changing the laws if the King deemed it necessary, though she suggested the government would be “guided by the royal family” on the matter20. The political consensus is that the current situation, where the Prince retains the title legally but has promised not to use it, is an unsustainable compromise that fails to satisfy public and parliamentary demands for a definitive break14,18.

The Archaic Law of Peerage

The difficulty in formally removing the Duke of York title stems from the archaic and complex legal framework governing the British peerage22. Unlike the Prince’s military titles and the use of his ‘His Royal Highness’ (HRH) style, which were removed by Queen Elizabeth II in January 2022 under the monarch’s prerogative7,16, a hereditary peerage is a legal entity that can only be extinguished by an Act of Parliament9,20,22. The most recent and relevant precedent for the deprivation of titles is the Titles Deprivation Act 19175,9,22. This legislation was enacted during the First World War to strip British peerages and royal titles from those who had borne arms against the Crown or supported Germany5,9,22. Specifically, it targeted three German princes and one duke, including the Duke of Albany and the Duke of Cumberland25. The Act required a specially appointed committee of the Privy Council to identify the individuals before the King could issue a formal declaration of deprivation22,25. Before 1917, the primary method for removing a peerage was through an Act of Attainder, a medieval and early modern parliamentary tool that convicted and sentenced a person for a serious crime, usually treason, without a formal trial22. The last use of an Act of Attainder against a peer occurred in 174522. Legal experts suggest that a new, short piece of legislation, similar to the 2022 bill that made the Princess Royal and Prince Edward Counsellors of State, could be passed relatively quickly to address the current situation5. However, the political will of the government and the explicit desire of the Palace are necessary for such a bill to be tabled and passed14,20. The Prince’s title of ‘Prince’ is a birthright, as the son of a Queen, and cannot be removed by the monarch or Parliament, though the style of HRH can be removed by Letters Patent6,8,18.

The Shadow of Epstein and the Newsnight Interview

The current crisis is the culmination of a decade-long association with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in a Manhattan prison cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges2,16. Prince Andrew’s friendship with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 of sex trafficking and conspiracy charges and is serving a 20-year sentence2,3, has been the central cause of his public downfall3,7. The Prince’s attempt to clear his name in a BBC *Newsnight* interview in November 2019 proved disastrous13,16. During the interview with Emily Maitlis, the Prince expressed no regret for his friendship with Epstein, stating that the people he met and the opportunities he was given were “actually very useful”13. He offered a series of explanations for the allegations, including a claim that he could not have been in London on the night of the alleged encounter because he had taken his daughter, Princess Beatrice, to a Pizza Express restaurant in Woking26. He also claimed that a medical condition prevented him from sweating, contradicting Ms Giuffre’s recollection that he was “sweating profusely” while dancing at Tramp nightclub11,26. Ms Giuffre’s memoir describes the *Newsnight* interview as an “injection of jet fuel” for her legal team, as it raised the possibility of subpoenaing members of the royal family, including his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and his daughters10. The public reaction to the interview was overwhelmingly negative, leading to a rapid withdrawal of his public duties and the eventual stripping of his military titles and HRH style by his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in January 20227,16. The settlement a month later, in February 2022, brought the civil case to an end but did not resolve the underlying reputational damage or the political issue of his remaining titles7,12.

The Mechanics of a Smear Campaign

The dual allegations of a digital harassment campaign and a separate attempt to dig up personal information on Ms Giuffre highlight the aggressive, behind-the-scenes tactics allegedly employed by the Prince’s associates10,14,19,21,23. The claim that his team sought to hire “internet trolls” suggests an awareness and willingness to engage in modern, asymmetric warfare against an accuser in the court of public opinion10,23. Such campaigns typically involve the creation of anonymous or pseudonymous accounts to spread disinformation, amplify negative narratives, and personally attack the credibility of a target across social media platforms and online forums27. The goal is to create a hostile online environment that discourages the victim from speaking out and sows doubt among the public and media27. The separate claim, now under review by the Metropolitan Police, that the Prince provided his bodyguard with Ms Giuffre’s date of birth and social security number in 2011 for the purpose of a smear campaign, suggests a long-standing effort to discredit her10,14,19,21,23. This alleged action predates the 2021 civil lawsuit and indicates that the Prince and his circle were actively concerned about Ms Giuffre’s public statements for over a decade14,16. The Metropolitan Police’s decision to ‘actively’ look into the claims, which were reported by the *Mail on Sunday*, adds a potential criminal dimension to the Prince’s ongoing legal and public relations woes10,14,21. The combination of alleged digital harassment and the reported attempt to gather personal data for a smear campaign paints a picture of a coordinated, multi-faceted effort to silence or discredit a key witness, a strategy that has now backfired with the posthumous publication of her full account10,23.

Conclusion

The posthumous voice of Virginia Giuffre, amplified by the detailed allegations in *Nobody’s Girl*4,17, has created a new and profound crisis for the House of Windsor10. The claims of a digital harassment campaign and a separate attempt to orchestrate a smear campaign against Ms Giuffre10,14,23 have moved the controversy from a historical sexual assault allegation to a contemporary issue of alleged character assassination and abuse of power19,21. Prince Andrew’s voluntary renunciation of the use of his titles on October 17, 202518, has proven insufficient to quell the political storm9,14. The calls from MPs like Rachael Maskell and Stephen Flynn for a formal Act of Parliament to strip the Duke of York title5,9,14 represent a direct challenge to the Crown’s traditional prerogative and the antiquated laws of the peerage20,22. The political pressure is now focused on the government and King Charles III to decide whether to maintain a legal fiction—a Duke who cannot use his title—or to engage in a legislative process not seen since the Titles Deprivation Act of 19175,25. The enduring crisis demonstrates that the Prince’s association with Jeffrey Epstein and the subsequent legal and public relations fallout continue to pose a fundamental threat to the reputation of the monarchy, demanding a final, legislative resolution to an issue that has plagued the royal family for years7,13,18.

References

  1. Jeffrey Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre details her claims in posthumous memoir mentioning many famous names - CBS News

    Supports details about the memoir's content, the posthumous nature, the claims against Epstein/Maxwell, and the initial meeting at Mar-a-Lago.

  2. Giuffre thought she might 'die a sex slave' at hands of Epstein and his circle, memoir reveals

    Confirms the memoir's title, the date of Ms Giuffre's death, the three alleged sexual encounters with Prince Andrew, and his denial of wrongdoing.

  3. Virginia Giuffre, Epstein accuser, details abuse claims in posthumous memoir - Global News

    Provides the full title of the memoir, the co-author's name (Amy Wallace), the date of release (Oct. 22), and details about Epstein's manipulation tactics.

  4. Change the rules so King can strip Prince Andrew of his dukedom, MP says

    Cites Rachael Maskell (York Central MP) calling for a law change, mentions the Titles Deprivation Act 1917 precedent, and quotes SNP leader Stephen Flynn.

  5. What are notable historical cases where British royals were stripped of their titles? - Quora

    Supports the distinction between the birthright title of 'Prince' and the peerage title of 'Duke', and the requirement of an Act of Parliament for peerage removal.

  6. Prince Andrew settles Virginia Giuffre sexual assault case in US - The Guardian

    Confirms the settlement date (Feb 15, 2022), the lack of admission of guilt, the substantial donation to charity, the prior stripping of military titles/HRH by Queen Elizabeth II, and the attempt to dismiss the case based on the 2009 Epstein settlement.

  7. What historical precedents exist for revoking a royal title, and could they apply to Prince Andrew's situation? - Quora

    Reinforces that the title of 'Prince' is a birthright and cannot be taken away, only the HRH style.

  8. MPs call for law change to formally strip Prince Andrew of his titles - The Mirror

    Confirms the voluntary renunciation of the Duke of York title (Oct 17), the retention of the dukedom legally, the need for an Act of Parliament, and Rachael Maskell's private member's bill.

  9. Andrew's 'team' tried to hire 'internet trolls to hassle' sex accuser - The Independent

    The primary source for the new troll allegation, the direct quote from the memoir, the Metropolitan Police investigation into the smear campaign/personal data claims, and the impact of the Newsnight interview.

  10. Virginia Giuffre thought she might 'die a sex slave' at hands of Epstein, memoir reveals

    Confirms the memoir's publication date (Tuesday), the 'orgy' claim on Epstein's island, the alleged payment of $15,000, and the Prince's alleged comment about his daughters.

  11. Prince Andrew pays financial settlement to accuser Virginia Giuffre, court documents show

    Provides the reported settlement figure (£12m) and the date the dismissal documents were filed (March 8, 2022).

  12. Prince Andrew settles US civil sex assault case with Virginia Giuffre - BBC News - YouTube

    Confirms the settlement date (Feb 15, 2022), the lack of admission of liability, and quotes the Prince's statement from the Newsnight interview about having 'no regrets' about the friendship.

  13. More humiliation for Prince Andrew as 'law could be changed to strip him of another perk'

    Confirms the date of voluntary renunciation (Friday, October 17), the retention of the dukedom, the pressure on Keir Starmer, and the Metropolitan Police investigation into the smear campaign/personal data claims from 2011.

  14. Virginia Giuffre - Wikipedia

    Provides the date of the civil lawsuit filing (August 9, 2021), the date Judge Kaplan rejected the dismissal (January 12, 2022), the date of the settlement (February 2022), and the date of Epstein's death (August 2019).

  15. Nobody's Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre: 9780593493120 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

    Confirms the full title of the memoir and its purpose as a definitive account of her time with Epstein and Maxwell.

  16. Prince Andrew gives up royal titles including Duke of York after 'discussion with king'

    Confirms the date of voluntary renunciation (October 17, 2025), the specific titles relinquished (Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, Baron Killyleagh, GCVO, Garter), and the legal status of the dukedom (retained but not used).

  17. Andrew's 'team' tried to hire 'internet trolls to hassle' sex accuser – memoir | The Standard

    Confirms the troll allegation, the Metropolitan Police investigation, and the details of the alleged first meeting outfit (pink V-necked, sparkly jeans).

  18. Prince Andrew's title - now government responds - Royal Central

    Cites Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson's comments on Parliament being 'guided by the royal family' and confirms the titles conferred in 1986 (Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, Baron Killyleagh).

  19. Prince Andrew's 'team tried to hire online trolls to hassle Virginia Giuffre' - Birmingham Live

    Confirms the troll allegation, the memoir's publication date (Tuesday, October 21), and the Metropolitan Police investigation into the smear campaign claims.

  20. Depravity and Deprivation | Robin Stanley Taylor

    Provides detailed legal context on the Titles Deprivation Act 1917, the use of an Act of Attainder, and the legal difficulty in removing a peerage without an Act of Parliament.

  21. Andrew's 'team' tried to hire 'internet trolls to hassle' sex accuser – memoir

    Confirms the troll allegation and the Metropolitan Police investigation into the smear campaign/personal data claims.

  22. The Titles Deprivation Act 1917

    Provides the official name and year of the key historical legislation for stripping titles, confirming it targeted those who supported the enemy in the First World War.

  23. Prince Andrew: The Newsnight interview - BBC News

    Provides details of the Newsnight interview, including the Pizza Express alibi and the claim about his inability to sweat.

  24. What is a troll farm and how does it work?

    Provides general context on the nature and tactics of online harassment and 'troll' campaigns for analytical depth in the 'Digital Battlefield' section.