Prince Andrew ‘needs disgraced actor Kevin Spacey to assist clear his title’

Prince Andrew allegedly needs disgraced actor Kevin Spacey to assist clear his title by telling a jury within the Virginia Roberts intercourse assault lawsuit that Ghislaine Maxwell was Spacey’s visitor throughout a guided tour of Buckingham Palace in 2002.

A photograph taken throughout the personal tour, which was organised by the Duke, reveals Maxwell and Spacey smiling as they sit on the Queen’s and Prince Philip’s Coronation thrones.

‘Andrew had invited Spacey for the tour of the Palace. [Ghislaine Maxwell] got here with him – not as a visitor of Andrew’s,’ a supply advised The Solar. 

The tour, which confirmed Maxwell and the American Magnificence actor larking round within the Throne Room, was organized for former US president Invoice Clinton – who was a good friend of Spacey – and different VIPs. 

The Duke of York needs to distance himself from Maxwell, who’s set to be sentenced on intercourse trafficking crimes on June 28. 

The supply added: ‘If Kevin can persuade a jury he was the essential hyperlink with Ghislaine, fairly than Andrew, it distances the Prince from her considerably – and that is essential. 

‘Andrew additionally believes such a gifted actor and public speaker might be a really compelling asset in entrance of a jury.’ 

Kevin Spacey’s repute was left in tatters after he was accused of creating undesirable sexual advances in the direction of actor Anthony Rapp when he was simply 14. 

Different males subsequently got here ahead alleging that Spacey had made undesirable advances and sexually harassed them. Spacey has continued to disclaim all assault allegations.

Earlier this week, Prince Andrew demanded a ‘trial by jury’ as he hit again at accusations of rape and sexual assault made by Jeffrey Epstein ‘intercourse slave’ Virginia Roberts.

In his official response to claims made towards him by Ms Roberts 5 months in the past, the Queen’s son issued 41 denials, rejecting all allegations of wrongdoing – however mentioned an additional 40 occasions that he ‘lacks ample data to confess or deny’ different claims. 

He additionally submitted 11 defences calling for the case to be dismissed, together with that Miss Roberts’ claims ought to be barred by ‘her personal wrongful conduct’ and ‘unclean palms’. 

His resolution to go forward with the case places him in contravention with the Royal Household who, sources say, are ‘determined’ for him to settle and keep away from the spectacle of a trial in New York later this 12 months throughout the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

A supply mentioned: ‘Andrew is on collision course with the Palace over this.’ 

Earlier this month the Queen ‘swiftly and ruthlessly’ pressured Andrew to step down from his remaining royal patronages and demanded he combat the case as a ‘personal citizen’.

Andrew had not formally responded to the 73-point civil declare as his attorneys virtually instantly utilized to a New York decide for it to be thrown out.

That was dismissed earlier this month, that means he now must formally reply the accusations towards him, together with claims that Miss Roberts, suing underneath her married title of Giuffre, was trafficked to him by his good friend, paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and compelled to have intercourse with the duke on three events when she was 17.

She says this quantities to rape, sexual assault and battery as she seeks unspecified damages, regarded as within the thousands and thousands of kilos. 

Andrew’s eight admissions have been restricted to data already public, corresponding to that he’s a UK citizen and resides at Royal Lodge on the Windsor Property.

He admits his stroll with Epstein in Central Park in 2010 and staying on the paedophile’s Manhattan mansion on the identical journey, each caught on digital camera. 

However in his rebuttal of Miss Roberts’ criticism, Andrew denies he ever sexually abused her and refuses to ‘admit or deny’ her assertions that she was a sufferer of Epstein.

He even – fairly remarkably given photographic proof of their relationship through the years – denies being a ‘shut good friend’ of Epstein’s girlfriend and now convicted intercourse trafficker, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Andrew’s authorized staff additionally reject Miss Roberts’ accusation that he has refused to co-operate with US authorities of their investigation of Epstein and his co-conspirators, regardless of officers claiming he has finished simply that. 

Andrew makes clear he continues to dispute Miss Roberts is resident within the state of Colorado, which permits her to convey the case within the US. 

Now a 38-year-old mother-of-three, she lives in Perth, Australia, and it’s understood Andrew’s authorized staff nonetheless intend to pursue this in a bid to get the case thrown out.

MailOnline has contacted Kevin Spacey and Buckingham Palace for remark.