Ingrid Seward of Majesty Magazine has warned latest developments over Prince Andrew's association with the convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein are at risk of becoming the "worst scandal ever encountered" by the monarch. Virginia Giuffre, an alleged victim of the deceased financier, has filed a civil suit in the US state of New York claiming Andrew sexually abusing her at one of Epstein’s mansions when she was under 18, the Duke has vehemently denied having had any contact with the then-teenager.

       Presenter Dan Wootton asked Ms Seward on GB News: "Do you agree this is the worst scandal the Royal Family have ever encountered?"

       "It is potentially the worst scandal," replied the royal expert.

       "But at the moment no it is not the worst royal scandal they have encountered.

       "But if [Prince Andrew] is proven guilty and has to stand in a court of law... I think it would be absolutely disastrous."

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

       It comes after solicitor Mark Stephens 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 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."

       Meanwhile, 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 Times Radio: "I am not sure they have, I can't think of anything in my lifetime, anything like that.

       DON'T MISS

       Prince Andrew seen at Balmoral to meet with Queen [REVEAL]

       Piers Morgan and Femi in full-blown Twitter row over Prince Andrew [INSIGHT]

       Prince Andrew branded 'a gutless coward' by Piers Morgan amid lawsuit [REPORT]

       "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," added Mr Bell.