Royal correspondent Rupert Bell has told TalkRADIO the decision of alleged Jeffrey Epstein victim, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, to file a lawsuit against Prince Andrew "is unprecedented" for the Royal Family. The 61-year-old has faced repeated allegations he had sex with Ms Giuffre when she was a teenager but the Duke has unequivocally rejected the claims. Mr Bell told Talkradio this latest development involving Prince Andrew is another "difficult situation" for the Queen in what has been "a very difficult year" for the monarch.

       Mr Bell was asked by host Aasmah Mir whether the Royal Family had ever faced a lawsuit like this before.

       He told TimesRadio: "I am not sure they have.

       "I can't think of anything in my lifetime, anything like that.

       "Of course they have been plenty of royal scandals along the way through history."

       "But to end up with lawsuit sort of being handed onto a member of the Royal Family, in this kind of situation I think is almost unprecedented.

       "I may be proved wrong but it just doesn't feel like...certainly in my lifetime which stretches back to the early 60s...I do not remember anything like this happen.

       "Yet of course we do know that the divorce with Diana and Charles, there were lots of things going on in legal situations.

       "But in terms of this, I think this is unprecedented and that is the difficulty for the Royal Family."

       "Because if he goes to America I am sure he would be under investigation as soon as he sets foot in America.

       "So it is a difficult situation for the Royal Family to deal with.

       "And it is yet another issue that the Queen is having to deal with in what has anyway been quite a difficult year.

       "Or a very difficult year for her."

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       Prince Andrew's representatives have not commented publically on the latest developments through the Duke has previously issued a statement expressing regrets over his association with Mr Epstein.

       He said: "I continue to unequivocally regret my ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein.

       "His suicide has left many unanswered questions, particularly for his victims, and I deeply sympathise with everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure, I can only hope that, in time, they will be able to rebuild their lives.

       "Of course, I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required."