“Failing to provide a full and truthful accounting creates further damage by favouring silence over truth.”

One of Epstein’s victims, now 35, lashed out at the Duke and said: “Andrew’s words were just hollow. It is clear to many he never had any intention of helping any of us; otherwise, he would have told the FBI what he knew. No wonder we think he is telling lies.”

Andrew stepped down as a working member of the Royal Family in 2019 due to his association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and allegations – which he has vehemently and repeatedly denied – that he had sex with Virginia Roberts Giuffre when she was 17.

The claims – – came to light in Florida court documents in April 2015. They stated Ms Giuffre was forced by Epstein to have sex with the royal when she was 17 – which is under the age of consent under Florida law.

In February 2022 Andrew reached an out-of-court settlement with Ms Giuffre a month later, and made no admission of responsibility.