Virginia Giuffre’s brother has told the BBC that his family has mixed emotions after Prince Andrew announced he was giving up his titles.

“We have a shed a lot of happy and sad tears today. I think happy because in a lot of ways this vindicates Virginia”, said Sky Roberts.

Prince Andrew has been under increasing pressure over his links with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Ms Giuffre, who took her own life earlier this year, said that she was one of many vulnerable girls and young women who was sexually exploited by Epstein and his circle of wealthy connections.

She alleged that the prince had sex with her at his friend Ghislaine Maxwell’s house in London in 2001, when Ms Giuffre was 17 years old, and on two more occasions.

In statement released to announce the surrender of his titles, Andrew said he continued to “vigorously deny the accusations against me”.