The Duke of York's hopes for a swift escape from his legal troubles have been dashed after American judges delivered a crushing blow to his defence team.
In a dramatic development that prolongs the royal's nightmare, a US court has rejected Prince Andrew's attempt to throw out the sexual assault lawsuit filed against him by Virginia Giuffre.
Legal Setback Deepens Royal Crisis
The ruling means the Queen's son must continue fighting allegations that he sexually assaulted Ms Giuffre on three separate occasions when she was just 17 years old. The case has already caused irreparable damage to the royal's reputation and forced him to step back from public duties.
Legal experts describe this latest court decision as "devastating" for the Duke, who had pinned his hopes on having the case dismissed entirely. Instead, he now faces the prospect of a full trial and potentially being forced to give evidence under oath.
Epstein Connection Haunts Palace
The case stems from Ms Giuffre's relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. She claims she was trafficked by Epstein to have sex with the Duke on multiple occasions between 2000 and 2002 - allegations Prince Andrew has consistently and vehemently denied.
Buckingham Palace finds itself in increasingly dangerous waters as the legal battle stretches on. Palace aides had hoped the matter would quietly disappear, but this ruling ensures the scandal will continue dominating headlines for the foreseeable future.
What Comes Next for the Duke?
With this legal roadblock removed, the case now moves toward discovery - a process that could force Prince Andrew to hand over personal documents and potentially face deposition. The royal's legal team had argued the case should be dismissed because Ms Giuffre no longer lives in the United States, but judges found this argument unconvincing.
As the Duke contemplates his next move, the royal family braces for more damaging headlines. The timing couldn't be worse for the monarchy, which is still recovering from the departure of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from royal life.
The eyes of the world remain fixed on this extraordinary legal battle that pits American justice against British royalty in a case that shows no signs of ending soon.
