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What to Know About Ex‑Prince Andrew’s Ex and Defender, Lady Victoria Hervey — and What She’s Said About Virginia Giuffre
- Angela Tam
- 46 minutes ago
- 4 min read
In an extraordinary moment that has shaken the British establishment, former Prince Andrew was arrested on 19 February 2026 on suspicion of misconduct in public office — the first time in modern history that a senior member of the British royal family has been taken into police custody. Thames Valley Police have been investigating whether Andrew shared sensitive information with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as a UK trade envoy, and the 66‑year‑old was questioned for hours before being released under investigation later that day. His detention in Norfolk marked a dramatic escalation in a scandal that has dogged him for years and underscored how deeply the Epstein connections continue to embroil him.
Throughout the long aftermath of that scandal, Lady Victoria Hervey — a 49-year-old British aristocrat, socialite and former girlfriend of Andrew — has been one of his most vocal supporters, frequently defending him publicly and challenging accusations made by his most prominent accuser, the late Virginia Giuffre. The arrest has again thrust Hervey into the media’s eye, amid renewed scrutiny of both the legal saga and the voices that have rallied behind the embattled royal.
Who Is Lady Victoria Hervey?
Lady Victoria Hervey is a British socialite and media personality born in London in 1976. The daughter of the late 6th Marquess of Bristol and his third wife Yvonne Marie Sutton, she emerged in the late 1990s as a fixture of Britain’s “It girl” scene — mixing high fashion, modelling and celebrity circles. According to Style by SCMP, her parents were once worth US$100 million until her father, an arms dealer with a notorious reputation, went bankrupt and was imprisoned following a conviction for jewellery theft.
In recent years Hervey has cultivated a much broader public persona — embracing social media, political commentary and outspoken views that often court controversy. She has described herself as a “truth warrior” and has made headlines for her commentary on topics ranging from geopolitics to viral scandals.
Why Is Lady Victoria Hervey Famous?
Hervey first became widely known in the British press as part of a generation of aristocrats and socialites whose party‑going lifestyles made them familiar names in tabloids and fashion magazines. She modelled for brands, launched lifestyle content and was regularly photographed at high‑profile events.
Over time, her fame has become less about fashion and more about her public statements — including public commentary on politics and high‑profile court cases. Part of that association stems from her past relationship with former Prince Andrew, but Hervey has also developed her own platform through social media, interviews and media appearances.
How Did Lady Victoria Hervey Make Her Money?
Hervey’s material wealth is rooted in a mix of inherited privilege and commercial ventures. Her early modelling work — which included runway and editorial assignments — provided a foundation in the fashion and lifestyle markets, while her broad social visibility helped her attract paid opportunities in television and branding.
What Kind of Work Does Victoria Hervey Do Now?
In the mid‑2020s Hervey’s work centres largely on media presence and commentary. She maintains an active social media following where she shares her views on politics, culture and current affairs, and regularly participates in radio and television interviews. Her commentary has frequently courted controversy — including positions on conspiracy theories, public health topics and high‑profile legal cases.
In early 2026, for example, she drew attention during a radio interview when she said that being named in the Jeffrey Epstein files was “not being in those files… an insult because it just means you were a bit of a loser,” a remark which drew plenty of controversy.
What Is Lady Victoria’s Net Worth?
Publicly available estimates place Lady Victoria Hervey’s personal net worth in the multi‑million‑dollar range, derived from her hybrid career in modelling, media and entrepreneurial ventures.
When Did Lady Victoria Date Former Prince Andrew?
Hervey briefly dated Andrew in 1999, shortly after his high‑profile divorce from Sarah Ferguson. Their relationship was not long‑term, but it established a personal connection between Hervey and one of Britain’s most controversial royals. Hervey has since spoken about Andrew in media interviews, often defending him and contextualising his actions in ways that contrast sharply with the broader public narrative around his
legal troubles.
What Has Lady Victoria Said About Virginia Giuffre?
Virginia Giuffre became known globally for her allegations that she was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and forced to have sex with powerful men — including Andrew — when she was a teenager. Those claims played a central role in the civil lawsuit Andrew settled in 2022. Hervey has repeatedly criticised Giuffre publicly, but her statements are widely considered controversial and not supported by independent evidence.
Hervey has questioned the authenticity of the now‑famous photograph showing Andrew with Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell, suggesting it was doctored and involved a “body double” — a claim for which she provided no substantiation. According to the BBC, an email from the latest Epstein files appears to show that Ghislaine Maxwell confirmed that the photo was real.
Is Lady Victoria Hervey in the Jeffrey Epstein Files?
One of the most striking developments in the ongoing public unravelling of the Jeffrey Epstein archive is that Lady Victoria Hervey’s name does appear in the newly released Epstein files, referenced multiple times in documents made public by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Importantly, being listed in the Epstein files does not itself indicate criminal conduct or involvement in Epstein’s crimes; the documents contain millions of pages of correspondence, flight manifests, names and references of various kinds. Authorities and journalists note that appearances in the files can stem from a wide range of contact with, or proximity to, Epstein and his associates — from social correspondence to being referred to in other people’s emails — without implying wrongdoing.