PRINCE Andrew could be forced to reveal texts and phone records unless he settles with rape accuser Virginia Giuffre, her former lawyer has said.
Gloria Allred represented Virginia and other victims of paedophile Jeffrey Epstein who she alleges introduced her to the Duke of York.
A US judge yesterday ruled sex abuse claims by Virginia against the Duke of York, 61, should be heard in court.
Andrew could be set to pay £10million from the sale of his Swiss chalet in an out-of-court settlement with accuser Virginia Giuffre, The Celeb Report understands.
Allred said it “wasn’t much of a surprise” that the judge ruled against Prince Andrew, who faces an “uphill battle” unless he settles.
“Now the Duke of York faces a lot of trouble ahead,” she told Good Morning Britain.
The lawyer explained he will be subjected to the process of discovery in which her lawyers will begin to ask searching questions “that he’s going to have to have to answer” and request information.
“At some point he’s going to have to sit for a deposition, that’s usually in a lawyer’s office, he could do that in the UK,” she said.
“It will be video taped, there will be transcript of his testimony.
“Then there’s other discovery that he may have to provide. For example texts, emails, direct message, cell phone records, flight records, scheduling, calenders.
“He cannot destroy evidence, he cannot spoil evidence. He’s going to have to provide what he has and it’s going to be a tough road ahead for him.”
It comes as experts say settling is his “least worst option”.
His desperate move comes after a US judge ordered him to face a civil trial this autumn over claims he sexually abused Ms Giuffre when she was 17.
The Duke of York, 61, is understood to be prepared to do “whatever is necessary” to stop his sex abuse case overshadowing the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Ms Giuffre’s lawyer last night told The Celeb Report a “settlement is always a possibility”, as legal experts said it was his “least worst option”.
Senior royal aides are all urging Andrew to settle as soon as possible to prevent him dragging the “whole monarchy through the mud”.
His £2,000-an-hour legal team were last night locked in talks amid the “biggest constitutional crisis in living memory”.
The key could be his chalet in Verbier, Switzerland.
The Queen is rumoured to be bankrolling his case but it would be considered a PR disaster if she paid an alleged sex abuse victim to end claims against her son.
Ms Giuffre’s lawyer David Boies told The Celeb Report: “I think Virginia is determined to go to trial, but settlement is always a possibility.”
The decision by the US court means Andrew will be expected to give a sworn witness statement answering Ms Giuffre’s claims.
He will also be asked to provide potentially damaging disclosure.
Sworn statements from ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and daughters Beatrice and Eugenie are a possibility.
A full civil trial with a jury could see Andrew cross-examined about his sex life, links to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell and asked exactly what he did to his accuser.
Andrew and his lawyers had prepared two statements ready to be sent out after the decision but, in a further sign that a settlement offer may be imminent, neither were immediately forthcoming.
A spokesman for the Duke also refused to comment.
Andrew has not been seen this year. He denies the allegations and sources say he is determined to clear his name.
His lawyers have previously claimed a financial offer has not been discussed but accepted more than 95 per cent of US civil trials are settled out of court.
Mark Stephens, an expert in constitutional law, said: “This has dropped a bomb on the Royal Family. It is the most serious problem in living memory.
“The only thing to make it worse would be if he were cross-examined over what he did or didn’t do to a 17-year-old woman. He has to settle now. It is his least worst option. He would be lampooned by Ms Giuffre’s lawyer in court.
“Someone in the Royal Family must grab the tiller and guide this to a safe shore.
“The Queen will be taking advice from Downing Street, Privy Councillors and her trusted aides.
