Senior Royals have reportedly been left ‘in the dark’ on Prince Andrew’s legal strategy to face down sex claims against him.

The Duke of York is said to have had ‘little or no discussion’ with Prince William, Prince Charles or the Queen despite her paying his legal fees, according to the Daily Mirror.

Andrew has been accused by Virginia Giuffre of sexually assaulting her three times in 2001, when she was 17.

He has strenuously denied the allegations, notably in a now notorious BBC Newsnight interview when he said he was actually having a meal at a Pizza Express in Woking.

Ms Giuffre, now 38, claims she was trafficked by the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, who later died in a US prison.

Sources told The Mirror that the Duke of York has been ‘less than forthcoming’ over how he will battle Ms Giuffre’s allegations.

They added that there has been a ‘severe clash of personalities’ between Andrew’s UK solicitor Gary Bloxsome and his newly hired ‘Hollywood hotshot lawyer’ Andrew Brettler, with the infighting impacting preparations.

His legal team is expected to deliver its final submissions on Monday, before a judge rules on whether a trial will be held.

One source told the Mirror: ‘Everyone from the very top has been left in the dark.

‘The fact there has been little or no discussion with senior members of the family is just mind-boggling.’

It comes as the trial of Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell continues in New York.

The Duke, 61, has always emphatically denied any wrongdoing and denies the claims against him.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment when contacted by Metro.co.uk on Sunday.

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