How did Virginia Giuffre die? Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested on 66th birthday

Virginia Giuffre, whose name became synonymous with the fight against sex trafficking, died by suicide in 2025 aged 41. Her family confirmed the news at the time, saying the “toll of abuse” she suffered throughout her life ultimately became unbearable.

Giuffre, who accused the former Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein of sexually abusing her when she was a teenager, died at her farm in Neergabby, Western Australia, leaving behind three children.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, his name following the removal of his titles, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on Thursday 19 February 2026.

What happened to Virginia Giuffre?

West Australia police responded to a call at her home where they found her unresponsive. Major Crime detectives investigated, but there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.

The family released a statement at the time highlighting the impact of her abuse and its lasting scars: “She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking.” They described her as a “fierce warrior” and “the light that lifted so many survivors,” underscoring her role as a beacon in the Me Too movement.

Giuffre’s life had been marked by her allegations against some of the world’s most powerful men, including the then British royal. She claimed Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell trafficked her to the then Duke of York when she was 17. Andrew has strenuously denied the claims but reached a multi-million dollar out-of-court settlement with her in 2022. He expressed regret for his association with Epstein but made no admission of liability or apology.

In her final months, Giuffre had faced personal challenges. She had been living with her husband Robert and their children in North Perth, but local media reported the couple had separated after 22 years of marriage.

Three weeks before her death, she posted on Instagram about being injured in a car crash. Her family said she hadn’t intended to make that information public, and local police later disputed the severity of the accident.

Still, those close to her say the years of trauma were always present. Her family’s message was clear: her suicide was not an isolated event but the result of a lifetime of pain.

Tributes poured in for a woman whose bravery helped expose one of the most notorious sex trafficking networks in modern history. And since then it has only grown...

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