Prince Andrew faces private prosecution after Virginia Giuffre's sexual assault allegations
Ms Giuffre, who died by suicide in April, alleged she was forced to have sex three times with Andrew
Prince Andrew is facing a private prosecution over sexual assault, corruption and misconduct allegations as the King prepares to strip his brother of his remaining titles and honours.
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Campaign group Republic has vowed to take the unprecedented step of telling a law firm to investigate Andrew and launch court proceedings against him if appropriate.
The announcement from the group came shortly before King Charles announced he has started the process of stripping the Prince title from Andrew.
Republic's CEO, Graham Smith said he believes there is sufficient evidence to justify a "serious investigation" into claims made by Virginia Giuffre.
The late Ms Giuffre alleged she was forced to have sex with Andrew three times - being paid to do so at least once by paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Read more: Andrew to be stripped of Prince title and will leave rent-free Royal Lodge as King wields axe
"It's a devastating indictment on the UK's criminal justice system, police and politicians – not to mention the king and heir – that we must resort to a private prosecution.
"It should be a cause for concern that so many people believe – rightly in my view – that the royals are not treated equally in law,” he said.
Andrew paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with Giuffre in 2022, despite insisting he had never met her.
As part of him being stripped of his style, remaining honours and titles, Andrew is also being forced out of the rent-free Royal Lodge and will reportedly be moved to Sandringham.
Republic, the anti-monarchy group, accused the police and politicians of appearing "to want to look the other way, while minimising the accusations made against Andrew".
The Metropolitan Police previously said it was looking into allegations Andrew passed Ms Giuffre's date of birth and social security number to his taxpayer-funded bodyguard in 2011 and asked him to investigate.