The Duke of York is facing allegations from American Virginia Giuffre, who alleges that she was coerced into an intimate relationship with Andrew as a juvenile. The prince categorically denies the charges, and his legal team is now attempting to have the judge dismiss the complaint.

Meghan Markle may testify in Prince Andrew's sexual assault lawsuit, according to David Boies, an attorney for the royal's accuser, Virginia Giuffre. The attorney asserts that the Duchess of Sussex may possess critical information regarding Prince Andrew and is a member of the Royal Family who can be relied upon to "tell the truth."

Another reason the lawyer regards Meghan Markle as a crucial testimony is because she is a US citizen who currently resides in California, making her subject to the country's courts.

Meghan Markle began dating Prince Harry in 2016 and married the Duke of Sussex in 2018. Six months after the Jeffrey Epstein sex scandal surfaced, the pair declared their decision to resign from top Royal Family positions and relocate to North America to achieve financial independence.

Accusations Leveled Against Prince Andrew and Additional Potential Witnesses

Virginia Giuffre (née Roberts) is one of the alleged victims of Jeffrey Epstein, a US businessman charged with leading a network of juvenile sex traffickers. His social circle featured several influential figures, including former US Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Microsoft co-founder and billionaire Bill Gates, actors Kevin Spacey and Chris Tucker, and royals (Prince Andrew).

Giuffre alleges that she was 17 years old when she was smuggled to London by Epstein and his alleged accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell and forced to have sex with Prince Andrew. Additionally, the 38-year-old claims that the Duke of York had intercourse with her without her consent two other times.

Prince Andrew has categorically denied the charges. In an interview with the BBC, he stated that he had never seen Giuffre and that he had an alibi for the day of the alleged sexual encounter in London.

Doubts have been raised about his remarks because at least one photograph shows the prince with the young Giuffre (Prince Andrew claims the image was doctored), and at least two people claim to have seen him with the girl - in a nightclub and on Jeffrey Epstein's private island.

In August, Mrs. Giuffre launched a civil complaint against the royal in New York, requesting "accountability" from Prince Andrew and an undisclosed sum in damages from the Duke of York.

Her legal team previously hinted that the Duke of York's close family and aides could be asked to testify during the trial. Specifically, his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson claims to validate the royal's alibi. Other senior members of the family, including Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, Prince Harry, and Prince William, may be summoned to testify.

According to David Boies, the legal team has no plans to summon Queen Elizabeth, Prince Andrew's mother, to testify. "Out of respect and deference," the lawyer explained, as well as due to her age.

Jeffrey Epstein was discovered hanging in his prison cell on 10 August 2019, less than a month after his arrest on charges of operating a juvenile sex trafficking network. Ghislaine Maxwell, his suspected accomplice, is now on trial in New York. Maxwell is reported to have introduced Prince Andrew to Epstein as the daughter of UK tycoon Robert Maxwell. She is charged with eight counts, including luring a youngster as young as 14 into illicit sex acts.

Several of Epstein's claimed victims testified during her trial. They accused Maxwell of enticing them into the financier's clutches by promising them well-paid positions in the millionaire's mansion. Her legal team maintains that she is innocent and has been victimized by Jeffrey Epstein's actions.

The jury, comprising six men and six women, adjourned without reaching a judgment on the second day of deliberations. They have requested to see the transcripts of three female accusers' testimony and determine whether they may include the testimony of one woman as evidence supporting the conspiracy charges against Maxwell. The jury will reconvene on Wednesday, with a verdict expected later this month.