Prince Andrew sex scandal: Duke of York could face Scotland Yard investigation

Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, could face an investigation probe by Scotland Yard if Virginia Roberts' files a legal complaint against him, police sources have confirmed.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "We have not received any allegations at this stage. If we did receive a complaint we would investigate it.

"We are, of course, duty bound to investigate any allegation of a crime that is made to us, regardless of the nature of the allegation."

Prince Andrew has so far completely denied the sexual abuse allegations by 30-year-old Virginia Roberts, in three separate denials, calling the claims defamatory and saying he never had any relationship with her.

The Duke has hesitated to sue Roberts to prevent further sensational allegations being made in court.

The Duke also advised his lawyers, Harbottle & Lewis, on Saturday (3 January), to remind media organisations of his denials and encourage caution when reporting on Roberts' claims.

Buckingham Palace had also issued a denial statement saying it had no intentions of further commenting on the sexual abuse claims made in documents filed in a Florida court.

However, following the surfacing of specific allegations, including the identification of the sexual abuse victim, Virginia Roberts who was referred to as "Jane Doe 3" in the court papers, the Palace released a second statement, strongly denying the allegations.

The statement read: "It is emphatically denied that the Duke of York had any form of sexual contact or relationship with Virginia Roberts. Any claim to the contrary is false and without foundation."

A source quoted in The Telegraph said: "The Duke isn't a party to the civil case and he hasn't been accused of any crime. These claims were made in a court filing to which he had no right of reply so a swift and categoric response was essential.

"The Duke took the decision because these accusations were false he needed people to know that."

US court papers have alleged the Duke of York had sexual relations with the underage sex slave, Roberts, who was loaned to the wealthy and powerful by US banker and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Roberts once worked as a masseuse to Epstein who was also the Duke of York's former friend.

Roberts was allegedly 17 when she met and had sexual encounters with the Duke of York, which is below the age of consent in Florida, where she claims one of the sexual encounters occurred.