Friends and family honour Virginia Giuffre at Washington DC memorial to mark one year since her death

Virginia Giuffre has been honoured at an emotional vigil in the US to mark a year since she died in WA and to demand justice for victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Friends, family and supporters of Giuffre — the most high-profile victim of Epstein — gathered in Washington DC near the Washington Monument to remember the woman who shared her story of abuse with the world.

Giuffre took her own life on April 25, 2025, at the age of 41, at her farmhouse at Neergabby, north of Perth. Her family said her death followed a long battle, struggling with the trauma of her abuse.

At the vigil, with the White House in the background, her brother Sky Roberts gave a powerful speech in front of 250 guests that honoured Ms Giuffre and praised her for speaking out.

“Sis, today is your day,” he said.

“Today is Virginia’s day, a day I know you would want to be about celebrating survivors around the world, for both those that have come forward and those that have not, to be about inspiring us to continue speaking out, acting and reclaiming what many of us feel like we’ve lost.”

Butterfly decorations, flowers and an artist’s rendering of Ms Giuffre among animals and nature adorned the stage for the event.

Ms Giuffre’s family have renewed their calls for the King to meet with them during his state visit to the US this week, to “show unity with survivors”.

Sky and Amanda Roberts, Ms Giuffre’s sister-in-law, “strongly” urged Charles to meet with them — as well as survivors of Epstein — earlier this month.

Charles and the Queen will arrive in the US on Monday for a four-day visit during which they will meet President Donald Trump.

Ms Giuffre emerged as one of the most prominent victims of Epstein after she challenged the sex offender, his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell and former British royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, alleging she had been trafficked and sexually abused.

Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence in the US for luring young girls for Epstein to sexually abuse.

Asked if a pardon for Maxwell in exchange for evidence is something they could support, Amanda Roberts told BBC Newsnight: “Never. Never.

“Even the idea of pardon and Maxwell in the same sentence makes my stomach completely sick — and the idea that this would be floated around as something plausible.”

Lifeline: 13 11 14.

If you or someone you know needs help, contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), or Sexual Assault Counselling Australia on 1800 211 028, the WA Sexual Assault Resource Centre on 6458 1828 or 1800 199 888 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.