Prince Andrew plotting sensational bid to overturn £3m settlement with accuser Virginia Giuffre and even force apology

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A police officer stands alongside Britain's Prince Andrew, Duke of York as they await the arrival of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, in Edinburgh on September 11, 2022. - The coffin carrying the body of Queen Elizabeth II left her beloved Balmoral Castle on Sunday, beginning a six-hour journey to the Scottish capital of Edinburgh. (Photo by Aaron Chown / POOL / AFP) (Photo by AARON CHOWN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

PRINCE Andrew is to make a bid to overturn the multi-million pound settlement with his sex accuser after her abuse case against a high-profile US lawyer crumbled.

Virginia Giuffre dropped the other lawsuit last year, admitting she “may have made a mistake”.

Prince Andrew is to make a bid to overturn the multi-million pound settlement with his sex accuser

Virginia Giuffre claimed she was forced to have sex with Andrew at 17

We can reveal the Duke of York is consulting US lawyers Andrew Brettler and Blair and hopes to force a retraction or even an apology — which may clear the way for a return to royal duties.

He settled with her out of court after she sued him in the States.

But a well-placed source said: “I can tell you with confidence that the Prince Andrew team is now considering legal options.”

The royal believes he has fresh grounds for a legal challenge after both the collapse of her case against Alan Dershowitz and a new intervention from Ghislaine Maxwell.

In an exclusive CBS interview, the jailed socialite insists the accusations against her “dear friend” Andrew are unfounded.

She says she never introduced him to Virginia, as had been claimed.

Virginia has always stuck to her claim about Andrew, saying: “My goal has been to show the rich and powerful are not above the law and should be held accountable.”

It is thought Andrew is receiving support from Dershowitz, who thinks he should have fought his case.

In US law, he would have to argue legal reasons for overturning the deal, including mistake or accident.

Sources claim he never wanted to settle with the victim of his paedophile tycoon pal Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew believes he was “bounced” into agreeing a deal as the Palace feared negative publicity of the case would have overshadowed the Queen’s Jubilee.

He paid Virginia, 39, at least £3million last February to drop her case, in which she claimed she was forced to have sex with him at 17.

A source said: “He never wanted to make a deal and has always insisted he is innocent.”

Andrew paid Virginia a sum in the millions last February to drop her case

The royal believes he has fresh grounds for a legal challenge after both the collapse of her case against Alan Dershowitz