Prince Andrew could "hole up" in the UK under the protection of the Royal Family, two royal experts have claimed. The Duke of York has been accused of sexually assaulting Ms Virginia Roberts Giuffre, one of Jeffrey Epstein's victims, a claim that the Prince has consistently denied. Ms Giuffre filed a civil case against Prince Andrew on Tuesday under New York's Child Victims Act.
In a conversation between two royal experts on US Weekly's Royally US podcast, host Joe Drake claimed: "I have been hearing a lot here in the States that Prince Andrew will likely stay in the UK for possibly the rest of his life or definitely while this is going on so he can avoid questioning.
"Do you think that that's a possibility, that he will just hole up in England for the rest of his life?"
Royal commentator Mikhaila Friel responded to the claim: "Anything is possible at this point, I certainly believe it could be true.
"With the protection of the Palace, I imagine he is in a better position here in the UK."
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"Again, we don't know what the legal process will involve and what will be required of him, whether that will be to leave the UK or not so that's just something we will have to wait and see."
Prince Andrew is currently staying with the Queen at the Royal Family's Scottish residence, Balmoral Castle.
His spokespeople have responded with "No comment" following the latest announcement that Ms Giuffre has filed a lawsuit.
The case claims that Prince Andrew sexually assaulted the claimant - then known as Virginia Roberts - at the London home of Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and at Epstein's homes in Manhattan and Little St James in the US Virgin Islands.
Ms Giuffre has alleged that Prince Andrew acted with full awareness that she was 17 years old and "was a sex-trafficking victim".
Her lawyers have said that the Prince's actions have caused "significant emotional and psychological distress and harm" to the claimant, who is now 38 years old.
The document that was filed in New York states: "Twenty years ago Prince Andrew's wealth, power, position, and connections enabled him to abuse a frightened, vulnerable child with no one there to protect her. It is long past the time for him to be held to account."
Prince Andrew's friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein first came under scrutiny in 2010, after they were spotted together in New York following Epstein's release from prison.
Shortly afterwards, Prince Andrew terminated the friendship.
In 2019, Epstein was re-arrested for sex-trafficking and sexual abuse, and later committed suicide in his prison cell.
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The Duke of York has consistently denied all claims made against him, stating that he had "no recollection" of meeting Ms Giuffre and that any form of sexual abuse "never happened".
Buckingham Palace previously released a statement to say: "The Duke of York unequivocally regrets his ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein.
"Epstein’s suicide left many unanswered questions, particularly for his victims.
"The Duke deeply sympathises with those affected who want some form of closure. It is his hope that, in time, they will be able to rebuild their lives.
"The Duke is willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required.
"The Duke has already stated that he did not see, witness, or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to Jeffrey Epstein’s arrest and conviction.
"He deplores the exploitation of any human being and would not condone, participate in, or encourage any such behaviour."