Five takeaways from Virginia Giuffre’s ‘Nobody’s Girl’ and what they mean for Prince Andrew and the monarchy

CTV royal commentator Afua Hagan discusses a new posthumous memoir from Jeffrey Epstein’s accuser, and how it may impact Prince Andrew and the Royal Family

Afua Hagan is a contributor to CTVNews.ca, focusing on the Royal Family. Based in London and Accra, Hagan is a regular commentator on the royals across a variety of international outlets, and is a leading voice on diversity in Britain.

The posthumous memoir of Virginia Roberts Giuffre, Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice, hits the shelves today, six months after she took her own life, and the British monarchy will be watching closely.

Giuffre’s civil suit settlement with Prince Andrew in 2022 re-opened a royal crisis; now her own voice — candid, detailed, and guided by trauma — promises to shape the narrative once again.

The book offers a harrowing account of her abuse by Jeffrey Epstein and several powerful men, whom she claims were also involved, including Prince Andrew. He has always denied all the allegations levelled against him by Giuffre and told Emily Maitlis in an interview with the BBC’s ‘Newsnight’ program that he had, in fact, never met her. Below are the five biggest takeaways from the book, and why each matters for Andrew and Buckingham Palace.

1. Survivor story, not just tabloid drama

Giuffre’s story has been known in bits and pieces: being recruited by Jeffrey Epstein, her trafficking ordeal, the photo of her with Prince Andrew in 2001, and the eventual settlement. Nobody’s Girl deepens this perspective, presenting her journey as a teen from Florida who endured years of abuse and later raised her voice to bring attention to it. In one part, she writes, “I believed I might die a sex slave.”

Why this matters: The public spent years debating the scandal with questions like, “Did Prince Andrew have sex with her?” instead of focusing on Giuffre’s story. The memoir highlights the power imbalance, institutional failures, and the trauma she faced. For the palace, avoiding Andrew’s involvement doesn’t work anymore. The focus is moving towards how institutions handled victims; not just about the actions of specific individuals.

2. Fresh insights: the Andrew allegations laid out

The memoir accuses Andrew of having three sexual encounters with Giuffre. She writes, “I met a handsome prince… we got in a bath … he seemed in a rush to get to the bed.” She also says his team tried to “hire internet trolls” to intimidate her during the civil case.

Why this matters: The 2022 settlement skipped a public trial, leaving many details untested in open court. Now, the allegations, which are both detailed and graphic, will see the light of day. Even without criminal charges, the risk to reputation grows. How can the palace’s old approach of staying quiet and distant work against the vivid personal account laid out in the memoir?

3. The settlement did not close the chapter

Many thought Andrew’s undisclosed settlement (with multiple sources reporting it was thought to be around £12 million/$22.5 million) would end everything. Giuffre, however, explains that the money was just a stepping stone. She hoped to use the settlement “to create some good.”

She wrote that although she would likely never get a confession from Andrew, she was trying for the next best thing: “a general acknowledgment of what I’d been through.”

Why it matters: Settlements do not equal court judgments. Families and institutions sometimes see them as the end of the matter. But this memoir shows the story isn’t finished. The royal institution should view this issue as an ongoing challenge to their reputation instead of a one-time scandal. Andrew giving up his titles might have been a strategic move, but there’s still more to the story.

4. Holding institutions accountable beyond personal scandals

Giuffre’s memoir highlights how Epstein and Maxwell’s operation thrived because powerful people either allowed it or chose to ignore it. She explains how they lured, groomed, and trafficked girls while those in elite circles turned a blind eye.

• Complete coverage of the Royal Family

Why this matters: This goes beyond the actions of one royal. It raises deeper questions about how institutions defend elite privilege, no matter what. The monarchy now faces tough institutional questions. How were warnings addressed? What procedures were followed when the allegations came to light? When it comes to public trust, these issues might carry as much weight as Andrew’s actions.

5. Legacy, reform, and testing ‘soft power’

Giuffre asked for her book to be published “in the event of my passing.” Her death by suicide, however, now makes the story feel even more immediate. The memoir stands as part of what she leaves behind: a plea to listen to survivors and to push for institutional change. It also raises a question for the monarchy: whether symbolic reform suffices or if deeper structural change is inevitable.

Why it matters: Royal “soft power” depends on moral authority gaining respect from the public and maintaining legitimacy. Scandals weaken this foundation over time. The situation with Andrew could lead the monarchy to consider two possible changes. First, they might create a legal way to remove titles, which some backbench MPs in the U.K. parliament are already urging. Second, they could adopt a clearer, survivor-focused approach when addressing allegations tied to the Royal Family. If they fail to act, the monarchy’s essential public support might keep fading away.

• Royals and government face pressure to formally strip Prince Andrew of his titles

So, what does this mean for Andrew and the Crown now?

For Prince Andrew, the memoir raises the stakes. He may never face criminal charges in the U.K., but his ability to rehabilitate his public reputation disappears with every new detail. The withdrawal of some titles might protect the working royals, but Andrew remains a live reputational risk for the institution. For the monarchy, this is no longer a scandal about a younger brother. It is a test of institutional resilience and accountability.

The monarchy must respond not just with gestures, but with systems: transparency, accountability and meaningful reform. In terms of public perception, the narrative is shifting. The public may ask whether the monarchy is willing to submit to the same standards as other public institutions. Survivor voices like Giuffre’s are shaping the compass of trust, and silence or deflection will no longer suffice.

More from Afua Hagan:

• The Epstein email makes Prince Andrew’s title impossible to defend
• 5 key takeaways from Eugene Levy’s interview with Prince William
• Is the Royal Family now ready for Harry’s return?