Andrew’s last stand: How the Duke of York is taking a legal gamble in attacking the credibility of his accuser

Defending himself against explosive sexual assault claims, the Duke of York has opted for a legal strategy which seeks to damage Virginia Giuffre, but even if successful, he seems certain never to return to royal duties

Prince Andrew: unlikely ever to return to royal duties. Picture: Getty

In October of last year, lawyers for Prince Andrew did what appeared to be an unusual thing: they tried to get a judge to include, on a court record, a manuscript of an unpublished book which contains what purports to be the first account of a night in London on which he allegedly assaulted Virginia Giuffre.

As part of the motion, Andrew’s legal team asked the judge to consider the text of the manuscript of ...