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They now have 21 days to respond to the accusations, which Andrew strongly denies, though this could be extended. Virginia Giuffre alleges she was forced to have sex with the duke in 2001, aged just 17.

She has launched a civil case against Andrew via a New York court.

To initiate this process, her legal team are required to serve Prince Andrew with legal papers.

Last week these were left with a police officer outside the Duke’s Windsor residence, but his legal representatives argued these had not been properly served.

They have since been sent to Andrew Brettler, the prince’s US lawyer, in Los Angeles.

David Boies, Ms Giuffre’s attorney, claimed Andrew’s team accept they have now been served with the papers.

Speaking to the Daily Mail he said: “Andrew’s counsel have agreed that service has been made.

“Theoretically the clock is now ticking. However, it would be normal for them to ask for, and for us to agree to, a reasonable extension of time to respond to the complaint.”

Mr Boies had previously hit out at Andrew’s delaying tactics, accusing him of playing a “game of hide and seek behind palace walls”.

Lewis Kaplan, the judge in the case, urged the prince’s US legal team to “cut out all the technicalities and get to the substance.”

Sources close to Andrew’s legal team indicated they are likely to seek an extension beyond 21 days to respond to the initial allegations.

They added the prince plans to “come out fighting” and respond to Ms Giuffre’s allegations “point by point, claim by claim”.

A preliminary hearing for the case is scheduled to take place on October 13 in Manhattan.

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According to the Daily Mirror, Prince Andrew is holding “crisis talks” with his legal team.

A source told the newspaper: “The plan, if you can call it a plan, has been shambolic from the start.

“Now it’s all come to a head. He is extremely worried and the crisis talks are so he can get off the back foot. He knows he’s in a full-on crisis.

“The damage to his reputation is there for all to see but now he’s feeling the pressure from his family, though none of them have become directly involved.

“The whole thing’s a disaster.”

Ms Giuffre claims she was coerced into having sex with the prince by financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

In August 2019, Mr Epstein committed suicide while awaiting sex trafficking charges.

On Saturday, Princess Beatrice, Andrew’s oldest daughter, gave birth to a daughter in London.

The baby, weighing 6lb 2oz, was born at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

In a statement, Beatrice said: “So delighted to share the news of the safe arrival of our daughter on Saturday, September 18, 2021, at 23.42, at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London.

“Thank you to the Midwife team and everyone at the hospital for their wonderful care.”
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