Prince Andrew’s lawyers will attempt to cast doubt on the photo which is said to have been taken in 2001 at Ghislaine Maxwell’s London home, it has been reported

Prince Andrew’s lawyers have reportedly requested the original photo of the Duke with his accuser Virginia Giuffre.

It is believed the Duke’s lawyers will attempt to cast doubt on the photo which is said to have been taken in 2001 at Ghislaine Maxwell’s London home.

Ms Giuffre has included the photo in her complaint against Prince Andrew, claiming she was forced to have sex with him on the night the image was taken – when she was 17.

She alleges she was forced to have sex with the Duke on four occasions after being trafficked by Maxwell and billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew has denied Virginia Giuffre’s claims in a US court.

According to a report in the i newspaper, Prince Andrew’s legal team will hope to find a way of discounting the photograph as credible evidence, reports the Independent.

Prince Andrew claims he has no recollection of the photograph being taken.

In a BBC interview in 2019, he said: “You can’t prove whether or not that photograph is faked or not because it is a photograph of a photograph of a photograph.”

Ghislaine Maxwell was introduced as a former girlfriend of Prince Andrew on a Buckingham Palace tour, reports have claimed.

The introduction was reported to have been made while former US president Bill Clinton was taking part in the guided visit.

In a recent picture published, convicted sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell – who faces a possible 40 years in jail – is seen with the Duke of York and Mr Clinton.

Andrew is seen pointing into the distance past Maxwell, who stands with her back turned and arms folded, looking at something in the ballroom with Mr Clinton.

An unidentified woman with Maxwell, wears a T-shirt with the words ‘God Save The Queen’ emblazoned on it.

Andrew, 61, disputes being a close friend of Maxwell in a legal response to Virginia Giuffre, 38, who is taking legal action against the prince.

The Sun quotes a member of the 2002 tour party as saying: “Ghislaine was described to me as an ex-girlfriend of Andrew.

“The impression we all had was that there was some relationship there.

“They clearly knew each other very well. She was very friendly and cheery.”

Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey was also seen with Maxwell as the pair enjoyed sitting on thrones in the palace.

The source suggested that Maxwell was familiar with the palace and “knew her way around”

This week, The Mirror told how an order for flags to be flown in honor of Prince Andrew’s birthday has been scrapped in the latest humiliation for the disgraced royal.

The decision – taken in consultation with Buckingham Palace – means Government buildings will not be expected to raise the Union Flag when the Duke of York turns 62.

While it is encouraged that buildings should always fly the flag, on some days, like the Queen’s birthday, it is compulsory.

Until this week, these days included February 19, the Duke of York’s birthday – but it has now quietly been removed from Civil Service guidance.