The Duke of York’s US lawyer Andrew Brettler reportedly has the legal papers relating to Ms Guiffre’s allegations of sexual assault which she filed against the royal at a court in New York last month.

       Prince Andrew has always vehemently denied the allegations against him.

       On Tuesday, ITV Royal Editor Chris Ship claimed that the Queen's favourite son "won't contest" the serving of the documents - which paves the way for a civil case to take place.

       He tweeted: “A Prince Andrew update (when isn't there one). So ‘service’ has happened.

       “The prince's US lawyer Andrew Brettler has it. And, on this occasion, he won't contest it.

       “It means the Prince's challenge to last week's High Court decision is nullified as the papers were served in the US.”

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       The news emerged just houirs after Ms Giuffre's lawyers claimed that the royal had been served with the papers.

       The documents were reportedly emailed and sent via the courier firm FedEx to Mr Brettler in Los Angeles on Monday.

       Once served the Duke of York's legal team have seven days by the High Court to challenge its decision to begin notifying Andrew about the US civil case against him.

       The High Court in London accepted last Wednesday a request by Virginia Giuffre's lawyers to formally contact the Duke about the legal proceedings launched in the US.

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       Ms Giuffre is suing Prince Andrew for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager.

       It happened after she was allegedly groomed and trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein - who died in prison while awaiting trial for multiple sexual crimes in 2019.

       Her case against Prince Andrew is a going through a civil court meaning that the royal could not be jailed if the court finds in her favour.

       However it could rule that he pay Ms Giuffre the "substantial damages" she is seeking.

       The issue of whether or not Andrew has been notified about the case - known as service of proceedings - was contested during the first pre-trial hearing of the civil case in New York on September 13.

       David Boies, representing Giuffre, said papers had been "delivered to the last known address of the defendant" and documents had also been sent "by Royal Mail".

       Andrew Brettler, the duke's attorney, said the royal's legal team contested the validity of service to date and insisted he has not been properly served under either UK or international law.

       Mr Brettler also told the hearing, Giuffre had previously entered into a "settlement agreement" in 2009 that would potentially nullify her case.

       On Thursday, Manhattan Judge Loretta Preska said Andrew could request the unsealing of the document agreed between Giuffre and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.