Virginia Giuffre, a US woman who accused Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein of sexual abuse, has died by suicide at the age of 41.
Giuffre was one of the most outspoken accusers of Epstein and his former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell. She alleged they trafficked her to the Duke of York when she was 17, which Prince Andrew has strenuously denied.
In a statement, Giuffre’s family described her as a “fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse” and that the “toll of abuse… became unbearable.”
The death is being investigated by Major Crime detectives, with an early indication that the death is not suspicious.
Virginia Giuffre had previously spoken of spending time in hospital at tge end of March following a serious car accident
Ms Giuffre posted on Instagram that she had suffered kidney failure after her car collided with a school bus, stating doctors had given her “four days to live” and were transferring her to a specialist hospital.
Giuffre, born in the US, had been living with her children and husband Robert in North Perth, although recent reports suggested the couple had split after 22 years of marriage.
She became a prominent campaigner and was closely associated with the Me Too movement.
The prince reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre in 2022, which included a statement in which he expressed regret for his association with Epstein but contained no admission of liability or apology.
Known for her courage in speaking out against sexual abuse, she alleged being trafficked to Prince Andrew at 17, a claim he has denied.
Her family described her as a “fierce warrior” and a beacon for survivors, though the toll of her experiences became overwhelming. Giuffre, a mother of three, passed away at her farm in Western Australia.
Authorities are investigating her death, which is not considered suspicious. Her advocacy left a lasting impact, particularly through her association with the Me Too movement.
