The Royals with Roya and Kate - BONUS: Virginia Giuffre’s family on her life, legacy and the royal fallout

Episode Date: April 25, 2026

Virginia Giuffre made headlines worldwide after speaking out about the late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as well as his former friend, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.One year after her death, Virginia’s brother, Sky Roberts, and sister-in-law, Amanda Roberts, join Roya Nikkhah to discuss her life and their loss. The anniversary comes at a particularly sensitive moment for the monarchy. In just a few days’ time, the King and Queen will travel to the United States for a state visit, with Virginia’s family now calling on the royal couple to meet with Epstein’s survivors.Should the King and Queen meet Epstein survivors during their US visit? Get in touch: [e-mail]: GettyProducer: Robert WallaceExecutive Producer: Dan BoxRead more: What really happened to Virginia Giuffre? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello and welcome to the Royne Enoch. Today marks one year since the death of Virginia Dufray. The survivor and activist whose allegations against Jeffrey Epstein, Gilaen Maxwell and Andrew Mountbatten, Windsor, had profound consequences for the former prince and the royal family as a whole. And it's important to be clear about the history here. Andrew settled a civil sexual assault case brought against him in the US

by Dufray in 2022. While that settlement included no admission of liability, and Andrew has always denied her claims, Virginia maintained until her death that Andrew sexually assaulted her on three occasions when she was just 17 years old. And this anniversary comes at a particularly sensitive moment for the monarchy, because in just a few days' time, the king and queen will travel to the United States for the state visit, where it's becoming increasingly clear that the Epstein legacy will inevitably, form part of the backdrop to this trip. So, one year on from her death,

we're looking back at the life of Virginia Dufray, the legacy she leaves behind, and the story of survival that made her name known around the world. And we're joined now by two people who knew her best, her brother, Sky Roberts, and her sister-in-law, Amanda Roberts. Sky Amanda, thank you so much for joining us

on the Royals this week. I know it's a poignant week for you with the one-year anniversary coming up. I just want to ask, before we get into talking a little bit more about how Virginia impacted the sort of royal narrative and royal story, what do you want people to most understand about Virginia as a person about the woman that she was? You know, those are always the hardest questions. They're the most deeply personal ones.

I think the biggest thing we want people to know is she was brave. She was fierce in a way that people could never truly understand. I think the world was able to see the battles that she fought outside, but the weight that she carried every single day is something that she chose to be vulnerable about, that she chose to really share in her memoir. I think the biggest piece I want people to know is that she was human. She was human. She was a mother.

She was a sister. She was a friend. She could laugh and find joy in some of the darkest moments. And that is what kept her memory alive. And that is, for me, the most important thing to remember that she was beautiful in every way and an inspiration to survivors everywhere. And let them know, like, it's okay to, like, live in this space and be who you are. Sky, what would your reflections be on that?

You know, like Amanda said, it's probably one of the hardest questions to answer because to me, she was just my sister, you know? She was, I mean, immensely brave. And she would say this all the time. I never want this evil to touch you. You know, I don't want this evil to touch you in this world. Because we've asked more than once to, what do you need? What can we do?

How can we help you? What are some things that we can take off your plate? but she always wore this like, it's like a cape. You know, she's a superhero to me. Like, she always wore this cape and she's like, I got it. It's okay. I'm taking this on my back. I don't want this evil to touch you in this world.

And I feel like when she wrote her memoir, nobody's girl, you can read in there and kind of pick those lines out. You can see how she would have been that with me in particular with her little brother. Because she was always so protective. You know, and she kind of wore that cape for survivors around the world. She carried this massive burden. But she, like Amanda said, was so human. She just such a good heart. She could make you laugh in two seconds, I promise you.

You talk to Virginia. She'll get you. But then she gets right back to it. And, you know, it's just you watch some of her interviews. And recently I've been doing that even more. Just, you know, what a gift to have that. Even though it's, you don't want to talk about that stuff. or listen to it for somebody that, you know, somebody that did something like that to your sister.

But she's so brave in it, you know, and she, like, shows this light through it of like, I'm not disgraced. It's not my fault that this happened to me. It's their fault. So. You mentioned Sky that reference to it was a very heavy burden. It was like wearing a sort of heavy burden of a cape, the responsibility of acknowledging what had happened to her campaigning on it, raising awareness. When she did start doing that.

And I know she was always very fierce, as you say, in doing that regardless of whether people were saying they believed her or not. How much did that change, you know, this sort of everydayness of her life? How much impacted that have on her and the family? Remember sitting down with her and she said, you're going to see some things coming out. I just want you to ignore them. I just want you to like not pay attention to them. And then you'd just be walking down the aisle at the random grocery store and you would see Virginia and former prince. Andrew and the covers and you know so I think it it definitely changed our perspective I think as you get

older as a father and as a brother I mean I have a daughter myself and I look at that and I think that you understand that more as you get older in life you understand the magnitude of what actually hits I didn't understand it as a kid right I mean when Virginia first was sexually assaulted was, I mean, I would have been a baby at that time, basically. When she had left the home, I would have been about 11 years old, 10 years old. So I always had a different, like my perspective was just a little different, right? And then when you get older and you say, oh my God, and you look back on everything that happened, it changes you immensely as a person, changes your outlook. It changes how you look at women. And she taught me to be a good husband and a good father. And I mean, yeah, it deeply changed our

family forever, but I wouldn't say that it's for the negative because you learn and you grow. And that's, I think, what Virginia taught us to do was to accept who she was and the pain and everything that she went through, at least the way that I look at it is that she shouldn't ever, no survivor should ever feel guilt or ashamed of something that happened to that. And I hope that teaches families everywhere and brothers and fathers everywhere, that it's okay to carry that burden with them. Yes. Of course.

I know it's very difficult at this moment, particularly as we are, you know, you are going to mark this one year anniversary with this memorial. You're holding this memorial in Washington. Can you tell me why it's important to you to do that to sort of mark the anniversary and what you want, I suppose, the public

and other survivors to take away from it? We had gone back and forth this year and the anniversary had been coming up and really, like, questioning what we were going to do. When she passed last year, we didn't get to put her to rest in Australia, and we didn't get that opportunity, so we did something very small here with immediate family at the Wolf Sanctuary, and it was beautiful, and it was what we needed. But after the year that we had, stepping into that public space, we realized, like the impact that she had on the world.

I mean, we knew the impact she had on us, but after the memoir was released, we got like an outpouring of just support from survivors and non-survivors. And it was probably a month before that we actually sat down and said, we need to do this publicly. We need to have a moment that Virginia deserves. Virginia deserves to be honored and remembered

and celebrated, not for the pain, but for the purpose that she has given the world, the movement that she had created and the legacy that she left. And not just for her, but every single survivor all over the world, it's a day of visibility for them to say that we see you in your whole as a person and we celebrate you and we honor your journey, whether you're living that journey out loud or living it in silence and healing the way you need to heal, this is a day for you too. So that is why we chose to make it public. It's going to be extremely difficult. I think there's going to be many moments where we're going to break.

But I think holding and being vulnerable with the world is what makes it impactful. I know it's really difficult that just talking about this at this moment is very difficult, emotional. so I do appreciate it. I want to ask you, obviously, the memorial is on Saturday. It's just days away from the king and queen coming to the US for a state visit, a very high-profile state visit at a very delicate time on multiple fronts. But we can't escape the fact that Virginia's story

became even more internationally known on the global stage because of the link with the former Prince Andrew, her allegation that he sexually assaulted her three times when she was young. Of course, he's always denied that. but she stuck to that and that was her story and she campaigned a lot around that. It has had so many knock on repercussions

in terms of not just the monarchy here but I think it's emboldened other survivors to come forwards. I suppose I wanted to ask the impact on Virginia when this became entwined with our royal family and the fact that she continued

and wasn't daunted and kept going can you tell me a little bit more about that and why she was so determined basically taking on you know, one of the oldest, most protected institutions in the world? I think there's two things you said there. One that she kept pursuing and that she wasn't daunted. I think it did take a toll.

I think especially against one of the biggest institutions in the world is a burden that she carried. But I think that was the point. It had never been done before. And the thing about Virginia is when she can sit in this street. truth and her conviction to the truth, knowing that what I'm saying is real, I know what happened to me, then it has to, the pursuit of truth and justice has to win. And that is what she stood on. No matter what power you hold, what title, what position, the monarchy or a president or a prime minister, whoever. And I think that's what made this impact so powerful, is that

she wanted to show the world that power doesn't get to get away with what was done to you. What happened to you mattered and we must push through for this truth. Sky, can I ask, do you think Virginia ever worried or felt that, or did you guys ever worry for that? The sort of global attention of the involvement or alleged involvement of the former Prince Andrew, people focused almost more on Andrew's involvement with Epstein than on the victims themselves on Virginia herself. Is that why she was so determined to keep going to kind of remind people that actually the victims were the victims?

That's exactly the point. And that's exactly why she did it was to put the focus back on. I mean, the focus should be on him and primarily that there is some serious accusations against him. And I remember my sister saying it that like, you know, we grew up watching movies like Cinderella and you have these princes and you have these characters that you look up to as kids.

And I think that her point was that money and power do not buy you a different set of roles. Well, we should say that Andrew has always denied the allegations, but I suppose I want to ask you again, when Andrew gave that now very infamous interview to BBC's News Night and appeared to say that he had no recollection of ever meeting Virginia, what impact did that have on her? and the fight. I mean, to be completely honest with you, I think it motivated her more to keep going. Yeah. I mean, the justice can come so many different ways, but you feel a hell of a lot better going to sleep at night. And you feel a lot better with making sure that you're setting a precedent for the next generation of survivors and victims moving forward. And that's what you're seeing today.

She set a movement forward by standing up and saying, I don't care if you want to point at me and tell me that I'm a liar. I know I'm telling the truth and that will come out. And let's just, I mean, he can deny all he wants. But in the files themselves, Galane Maxwell confirmed that not only did Virginia meet Prince Andrew at the time, but at the same exact location that she had mentioned. And so I think it's validation. That's not, that's not Virginia saying it anymore. That's Galane Maxwell, his very good friend saying it in the file. So I think it's important that he can deny these allegations all he wants. But the reality is, the truth is in the files.

The truth is in the pictures. The truth will continue to come out. And there's a reason he's no longer a prince. We should of course say that being named in the Epstein files is no indication of wrongdoing. When all these allegations came to light again, when Virginia's posthumous memoir, Nobody's Girl, was released last year, it prompted the king to take very drastic action, obviously stripping Andrew of his titles and everything that's gone with that, moving him from Royal Lodge and Windsor up to Norfolk.

Virginia wasn't around to see all of that. Do you think she had any idea of the significance of what might have come down the line? I remember. Actually, I remember seeing this. We watched it recently. I believe it was the 60 Minutes interview that she did. And they had recently released some more of the production. And she asked her, you know, what are you hopeful to see when it comes to former Prince Andrew now?

But Prince Andrew, the fact that she didn't get to see the repercussions, you know, today, it may not be directly towards those allegations. But her allegations was the door. It was the acknowledgement. And so that moment, we were extremely sad that she wasn't there to see that. but I hope that it inspired the rest of the survivors all over the world to continue their fight because it can happen. And justice may take a very long time to get, but it can happen. And, you know, that day is a very mixed emotions of joy and pride for Virginia, but also this sadness that she didn't get to see the full repercussions of her, of her bravery. We should of course say that Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconducting public office and not for any allegations from Virginia,

and he has, of course, denied all wrongdoing. I want to ask as well, obviously, we are about to come to America with the King and Queen for this hugely delicate, diplomatically sensitive state visit. We've had, you know, congressmen and women come out

saying they feel the King and Queen should be meeting with Epstein's victims. We've had Buckingham Palace come out and say they're not able to, in case it prejudices any ongoing police investigation. Here we had Congressman Roe-Canner on the podcast a couple of weeks ago, who I know you've worked with

closely, who has said, you know, I think he said, it's ridiculous that they're not going to meet with them. I want to ask your feelings on that. And actually, what would real recognition and meaningful recognition for Virginia look like? Should they be meeting with the victims while they're there? Yes. I mean, absolutely, he should be meeting with the victims when he's here. His brother's implicated in the files. This could be a huge stain on the royal family moving forward. And, you know, when we talk about a meeting like, oh, well, what would that do? I think it's just very different when you meet a victim and a survivor face to face and really understand the pain and the journey that they've gone through. We have yet to get any acknowledgement from a world leader. I mean, the king's come darn close,

but I don't know of anything that it would impede. But I also want to note that he won't meet with the victims and survivors, but we're survivor families. I'm a family member of a survivor. I was not a victim of Jeffrey Epstein and Clayne Maxwell, but my sister was. And she also made some very serious allegations against your brother. Would you like to meet with the king and queen? I mean, we've called for this many times. Absolutely. And the thing, the point is, is that we are 10 minutes away.

I wanted to make this point. We're 10 minutes away from him. I would say, Les, we're going to be on Capitol Hill this week. So we are actually staying a few days behind. So we're there. I would love just a brief explanation on his end of what he plans to do moving forward. I think we're looking for some sort of action and maybe not just words. I don't need to be consoled right now.

We've lost the greatest thing we could have lost in our lives. What more do you think he could do? Obviously, he's taking action. He's stripped the titles. He's moved him. What else would you like to see the king do here in terms of action? We're extending that olive branch to him. I think it would be so powerful to the people of UK to see their leader,

acknowledging in a way that no one has ever acknowledged. shunned by our own president. And if he could set the example, which he's already started to, this is very important. This meeting, he's specifically going to meet with President Trump. And if he were to say, I am going to take a moment, we have never had Trump acknowledge us, to take a moment to say, I'm actually going to, I don't have to hear the details. We don't have to go into deep conversations, but I will take 10 minutes to say to them, I see you and I honored the journey that you have been through. And I promise to honor in whatever way I can in a free and fair investigation. And I'm sorry that you had to go through what you went through. Not in a press

release, but face-to-face, that is powerful. That is impactful. And we don't have to get into the weeds of the investigation. We don't have to get into the weeds of the allegations, but it's the face-to-face acknowledgement that if people were to see that, it would be monumental. Yes. Can I just ask finally from each of you, your final reflection on what you want the world

to remember Virginia for? I want the world to remember her for legacy, for bravery, but also for taking and changing the way the world looks at survivors. She did that. She brought it to a level of humanity. She put it in a way that you could understand

whether you had either been through abuse before or haven't. She brought humanity to survivors and really started to shift the culture and how we see them, believe them, and talk to them. And then I also want them to remember her for just being human and joyful and loving and fearless and vulnerable and her real struggles with depression and self-worth. I mean, those are all real. But remember her for being phenomenal and ordinary person who did extraordinary things. Thank you. Sky.

It's always one of the, again, that's a very difficult question. I can talk about advocacy all day, but when it comes to my sister in particular, it's just very emotional, right? We're coming up on the year mark here. I mean, just look at what this year is held. It's funny because I talk to people all the time, like, oh, my God, I can't believe it's been a year. I'm like, I know. It's crazy. Like, what has happened this year?

Like, I just wish she was here to see it. But the reason we're here is because of her. The reason that we're even at this month. is because she trailblazed in a time where I think any victim or survivor coming forward was almost instantaneously not believed. And she found a way to show light to people in some of the hardest moments. And, you know, I just hope that we can continue to carry this torch for her. And I want the world to be able to, in every survivor out there, to be able to come forward

and join this community. I mean, this is what Virginia built. This is what she did and what Amanda and I are going to do continuing to move forward is just honor her. And I want the world to honor her in that way. But I mean, I say this all the time. She was my hero, but she's certainly, she's a world hero at this point. She's an American hero. And I hope the world remembers that.

Thank you both so much for joining us on what I know is a really, really difficult time. And I hope that that very powerful, poignant memorial on the National Mall in Washington goes well. And I'm sure it'll bring much more attention to Virginia's ongoing calls. Thank you both for joining us. Thank you. And thank you for listening to this special bonus episode of the Royals. Me and Kate will be traveling to Washington this week for the King and Queen's U.S. state visit. And we'll be bringing you all the latest from that trip.

So do subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so that you don't miss our podcast. coverage from America. Until then, thanks for joining us and we'll see you stateside.