Solicitor Mark Stephens has told Fox News that the Duke of York's legal team will likely attempt to delay and prevent the case from being heard in a US court. Mr Stephens argued there were a number of "legal technicalities" available to Prince Andrew's lawyers. However, the legal expert told the US news outlet that the strategy if adopted, could stretch out the legal challenges for decades for the Royal Family.

       Mr Stephens told Fox News Business that there are a large number of "legal technicalities" with which the Duke of York's lawyers can put forward his case.

       He said: "The only way in which [Andrew's] lawyers can properly defend this for him is to rely on the in numerical legal technicalities in the case.

       "To effectively try and stave off the evil day when this actually sees the merits of this case inside a courtroom.

       "And that could take as long as 20 to 30 years."

       JUST IN: Queen crisis as monarch ‘face catastrophe without Philip’

       Royal correspondent Rupert Bell 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.

       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.

       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."