Prince Andrew’s salary to sex accuser Virginia Giuffre was just $5.2 million, despite reports of $21 million

Sources say his lawyers negotiated a price reduction of $5.2 million to $8.74 million.

That much money the disgraced duke could quickly collect to stop her civil suit.

That may explain why Ms Giuffre, 38, was not forced to sign a gag order as part of the deal – and can now write a tell-all book, which she promises to do.

It comes after The sun last week it was revealed that Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson bought an $8.74 million home in London’s posh Mayfair district despite complaining about being cash-strapped.

A source said: “It was believed and widely reported that Virginia received £12m (A$21m) compensation from Andrew, but this is incorrect.

“It was much less, just 3 million pounds (A$5.2 million).

“There’s no doubt that had an impact on the terms of the agreement she was willing to sign.”

Ms Giuffre, who was sex-trafficked by pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, claimed Andrew sexually assaulted her when she was 17.

​While the settlement reached in February did not contain a formal admission of responsibility or an apology from Andrew, it said he acknowledged that Ms Giuffre was a “victim of abuse” and regretted his association with Epstein.

A spokesman for Prince Andrew has been contacted for comment.

This article originally appeared in The sun and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Prince Andrew paid just $5.2 million to sex accuser Virginia Giuffre