PRINCE Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson could be called to give evidence in a US lawsuit accusing him of raping a teen sex slave, reports claim.
Lawyers for Virginia Roberts Giuffre say they are seeking formal interviews with two “witnesses” in the UK in the coming weeks.
The Duke of York also faces attempts to force him to give a deposition – recorded questioning by lawyers that forms part of a civil lawsuit.
Details emerged in a brief hearing in New York yesterday when District Judge Lewis Kaplan set a provisional date for a court showdown next September.
The blockbuster trial would overshadow the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June, palace aides fear.
Virginia, now 38, filed a lawsuit in August accusing the prince of forcing her to have sex at Ghislaine Maxwell’s London home when she was 17.
She also claims he abused her in Manhattan and the US Virgin Islands, and knew she had been trafficked by his paedo pal Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew, 61, vehemently denies her allegations and is trying to get the case thrown out.
Yesterday Virginia’s attorney David Boies said he is seeking depositions from between eight and 12 witnesses.
He said the list includes people he “can’t identify right now because I’m not sure who we will be able to get, and that investigation is ongoing”.
The Duke’s lawyer Andrew Brettler said he would be seeking a similar number of depositions.
Judge Lewis Kaplan asked if either side would need “letters rogatory” – formal requests to British legal authorities for a witness interview.
Mr Boies said: “There are two people in the United Kingdom where it might be necessary for letters rogatory.
“We may be able to get them to appear voluntarily. We ought to know that within the next two to three weeks.”
Sigrid McCawley, another of Virginia’s lawyers, has previously suggested that one of those who could be asked for a deposition is the Duchess of York.
Sarah was divorced from Andrew in 1996 after ten years of marriage but they are still close and share a home in Windsor.
Virginia’s lawyers have also said they want Andrew to sit for deposition.
‘MONEY-HUNGRY’
The Duke’s legal team will also seek to quiz his accuser as the lawsuit moves forward.
Last week his attack dog lawyers hit back after months of silence as they argued the case should be thrown out.
They branded Virginia a “money-hungry sex kitten” seeking another “payday”.
They also alleged she was “head b***h” in Epstein’s trafficking ring and worked to find “sl*tty girls” for the paedo financier to abuse.
The lawsuit is separate from the ongoing criminal probe into Epstein, who hanged himself in jail aged 66 in 2019.
The Queen’s second son has so far failed to meet FBI agents who say they want to speak to him about his former friend.
Maxwell is currently in custody awaiting criminal trial over her alleged role in Epstein’s abuse.
