Prince Andrew (seen arriving at the Queen's Balmoral estate) has always denied the allegations made by Virginia Giuffre
Prince Andrew (seen arriving at the Queen’s Balmoral estate) has always denied the allegations made by Virginia Giuffre (Picture: Reuters / Abermedia)

Representatives of the woman who claims she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew say they have managed to serve the duke with the lawsuit’s paperwork.

Police officers working at Andrew’s Windsor home took in an affidavit of service on August 27, according to an update on the case published today.

It means the prince could have just 21 days to respond to the allegations or face a default judgment.

Virginia Giuffre – previously Roberts – has launched a civil suit in the US, alleging she was forced to have sex with the prince when she was 17.

Andrew has consistently denied the allegations and claims he has no recollection of even meeting Mrs Giuffre.

The latest papers say a man called Cesar Sepulveda, acting on behalf of Mrs Giuffre’s lawyers, first tried to serve the prince with the documents at his home at the Royal Lodge, Windsor Great Park, on August 26.

The representative was met by police officers who said they had been instructed not to let anyone onto the property or accept service of any court processes.

They said they were unable to reach the defendant’s private secretary or anyone senior. It appeared they had been ‘primed’ to reject such requests, the documents said.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Steve Parsons/WPA Pool/REX/Shutterstock (11853782t) Prince Andrew attends the Sunday service at the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge, Windsor, following the announcement on Friday April 9, of the death of the Duke of Edinburgh at the age of 99. Sunday service at the Royal Chapel of All Saints, Windsor, UK - 11 Apr 2021
Police officers at Andrew’s London home took the paperwork (Picture: PA)

Mr Sepulveda was advised that anything left with the officers would not be forwarded to the defendant. He was given the number for Andrew’s solicitor and left a message but did not receive a response.

The document states Mr Sepulveda returned the next morning and again met with police officers who this time agreed to accept the documents at the main gate.

He was assured they would be passed on to the duke’s legal team.

The document states that Mr Sepulveda ‘did enquire whether it was possible to meet personally with the defendant, but he was told the was not possible and although (Sepulveda) did ask the whereabouts of the defendant, the Metropolitan Police Officer said that he could not answer any questions.’

FILE PHOTO: Virginia Giuffre, an alleged victim of Jeffrey Epstein, walks after the hearing in the criminal case against Epstein, who died this month in what a New York City medical examiner ruled a suicide, at Federal Court in New York, U.S., August 27, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo
Virginia Giuffre says she is a victim of Jeffrey Epstein (Picture: Reuters)

It had been thought the lawyers would have to serve Andrew with the paperwork in person, but the document states the lawyers believe the process they followed complies with English law.

It is unclear whether the duke’s lawyers will agree that the legal papers have been served on him, as they were not handed to him personally.

The lawsuit claims Ms Giuffre was forced to have sex with Andrew three times after she was trafficked by convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Prince Andrew has not yet responded to the lawsuit (Picture: PA)

It lists Ms Giuffre, who was classed as a minor under state law at the time, as the plaintiff and the defendant as ‘Prince Andrew, Duke of York a/k/a Andrew Albert Christian Edward’.

It states: ‘Prince Andrew intentionally committed battery by sexually assaulting Plaintiff when she was a minor.

‘On multiple occasions Prince Andrew intentionally touched (Roberts) in an offensive and sexual manner without her consent’.

Andrew, who has stepped back from royal duties in light of the allegations, was last seen arriving at the royal Scottish retreat of Balmoral Castle in August.

It is thought his stay with the Queen was in part intended to ‘avoid’ being served the papers in person.

Buckingham Palace refused to comment.

A spokeswoman representing Andrew also declined to comment.

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