THE Queen is privately paying for Prince Andrew’s legal fight against sexual assault allegations, it has emerged.
The Telegraph reported that it understands the Queen is funding the Duke’s defence against Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who accuses him of sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager.
Prince Andrew has always denied these allegations.
The Queen is expected to pump millions into the legal battle, which could last months or even years.
READ MORE: Virginia Giuffre case: Prince Andrew officially receives court papers
The Duke has reportedly expanded his legal team, with lead counsel Andrew Brettler alone thought to be charging around $2000 per hour.
He works for the firm Lavley Singer, a US-based firm known for making celebrities' legal issues “go away” with hefty fees attached.
The Telegraph also reported that the Queen agreed to pay for her son’s legal defence just after the Duke’s infamous Newsnight interview, in which he countered claims by Giuffre dancing with him by saying that he did not have the ability to sweat.
The funds will be sourced from the Queen’s annual income from her private Duchy of Lancaster estate which is worth more than £23 million.
The Palace’s involvement in the legal battle means that the Queen should be updated on developments in the case.
Giuffre is said to be seeking “significant emotional and psychological distress and harm” from the Prince.
The Queen’s reported intervention is thought to be considered a necessity by Buckingham Palace as the Duke is thought not to have a discernible income - despite his lavish lifestyle.
Prince Andrew is currently on the brink of selling his last home, a £17m Swiss ski chalet, which was bought with help from the Queen.
The previous owner also alleges that the Duke and his former wife, the Duchess of York, owe her £6.7m.
READ MORE: The REAL Scottish Politics: New medal for Prince Andrew says it all
The Duchess had previously accepted £15,000 from the convicted and now-dead paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
David Rowland, a financier who is said to own an offshore fund in a tax haven with Prince Andrew also reportedly paid £40,000 to help with the Duchess’s debts.
There had been some back and forth between the Duke of York and Giuffre’s legal teams, with the Prince finally officially receiving the court papers in the sexual assault lawsuit last week.
Prince Andrew has until October 29 to respond to the lawsuit and the next hearing is scheduled for November 3.
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