PRINCE ANDREW’S financial settlement to accuser Virginia Giuffre, reported to be a multimillion-pound sum, must not be paid for out of the public purse, campaigners have warned. 

Questions have been raised about how the Duke of York will fund the settlement reached with Ms Giuffre, after the two agreed to settle her civil claim against him of sexual assault.

A statement from their lawyers on Tuesday said that Andrew would pay an undisclosed sum to Ms Giuffre and a “substantial donation” to her charity in support of victims.

It also said that Andrew regretted his association with billionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 

Though details of the settlement deal have not been disclosed, some reports put the figure in excess of £12 million. 

Graham Smith from the anti-monarchy campaign group Republic said that taxpayers deserve to know where the money is coming from for a settlement. 

A petition by the group demanding that the government ensures the settlement is not being funded by the taxpayer had gained thousands of signatures by this afternoon. 

Feminist group Sisters Uncut said on social media: “We cannot accept a situation where ‘our money’ is used to allow Prince Andrew to hide from court and protect his reputation.

“We refuse to consent to a system that enables and protects abusers.”

The settlement triggered fresh calls for the beleaguered prince to be stripped of his remaining titles after the Queen removed his military honours last month. 

Labour MP for York Central Rachael Maskell said the prince should support the withdrawal of his ducal title to show respect to the city. 

The out-of-court settlement means Andrew makes no admission of guilt over the claims made by Ms Giuffre, who says she was forced to have sex with him when she was 17. 

Andrew has repeatedly denied the claims.