UK

Former girlfriend of Prince Andrew wins damages over "porn actress" suggestion

Koo Stark, a former girlfriend of Prince Andrew, has been given "substantial" damages after suing the owner of a website which suggested she was a "porn actress" Picture by Lewis Whyld/PA
Koo Stark, a former girlfriend of Prince Andrew, has been given "substantial" damages after suing the owner of a website which suggested she was a "porn actress" Picture by Lewis Whyld/PA Koo Stark, a former girlfriend of Prince Andrew, has been given "substantial" damages after suing the owner of a website which suggested she was a "porn actress" Picture by Lewis Whyld/PA

A former girlfriend of Prince Andrew has been given "substantial" damages after suing the owner of a website which suggested she was a "porn actress".

Koo Stark (63) took legal action against Viacom International Media Networks, which owns MTV Networks, over an article published online in October 2018.

Detail of the litigation was outlined to a High Court judge on Friday by a lawyer representing Ms Stark, who was in a relationship with the British royal during the 1980s .

Solicitor Jonathan Coad told Mr Justice Warby at a High Court hearing in London that at one time Ms Stark had been widely expected to marry the prince.

He said allegations made against Ms Stark in the article, headlined "When Prince Andrew dated a porn star", were defamatory.

Mr Coad said Ms Stark was an American photographer and actress.

He said she had never participated in "any enterprise" which could "properly be described as pornographic".

Mr Coad said Viacom had undertaken not to repeat the allegations and had paid Ms Stark a "substantial sum of money by way of damages".

He said Viacom had also agreed to pick up Ms Stark's lawyers' bills.

Ms Stark was not in court to hear Mr Coad read out a statement to the judge.

Mr Coad told the judge the article concerned a forthcoming MTV series called Royal World, citing "dramatic moments" from the history of the royal family.

He said that portion of the article featured a picture of Andrew and read: "This is why the Royal Family should have their own reality show (to be honest). During a trip to the Caribbean, Andrew was seen with Koo Stark, an American lady who was no stranger to the porn scene. We can imagine Lizzy was not impressed."

Mr Coad said the allegations made against Ms Stark in the article were defamatory and published to a "very large number of individuals" on Viacom's MTV website.