Investigators are still waiting to speak to Prince Andrew as part of their investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, it has emerged.
The Queen's son has come under mounting pressure to speak to the FBI following the arrest of his friend Ghislaine Maxwell in connection with the case.
Maxwell, former girlfriend and confidante of Epstein, was charged last week with aiding the billionaire paedophile's sex crimes against young girls.
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Now, Attorney General William Barr has revealed he is still waiting to interview the prince, telling ABC News: "Definitely the department wants to talk to Prince Andrew, that's why the Southern District has been making efforts to communicate and to arrange an interview with him.
"The department is communicating with him and made it clear that we'd like to interview him."
The outlet also reported that prosecutors in New York have "formally requested" testimony from Andrew.
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However, Andrew's legal team have repeatedly insisted that the royal has been in touch with the Department of Justice on several occasions and had "no response".
The Duke of York came under scrutiny after he was accused of sleeping with Epstein's 'sex slave' Virginia Guiffre when she was 17 - a charge he vehemently denies.
And last week, US Prosecutor Audrey Strauss urged the Prince to come forward during a press conference in which she detailed the charges against Maxwell.
Strauss said: "We would welcome Prince Andrew coming in to talk with us, we would like to have the benefit of his statement."
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She went on to say that the investigative team's "doors remain open" and they would "welcome [Prince Andrew] coming in".
Maxwell, 58 - who was arrested last week in New Hampshire - is the daughter of the late Robert Maxwell, and is accused of helping Epstein to "recruit, groom and ultimately abuse" at least three girls, including one as young as 14, between the years of 1994 and 1997.
Epstein, a convicted sex offender who worked as a financier, died aged 66 in his New York prison in August 2019. His death was deemed to be suicide.
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Prince Andrew - who had a long-standing friendship with Maxwell and Epstein - is said to be "bewildered" by the calls from investigators for him to come forward.
Talking about the severity of Maxwell's alleged crimes, prosecutor Audrey Strauss said: "Maxwell played a critical role in helping Epstein to identify, befriend and groom minor victims for abuse. In some cases, Maxwell participated in the abuse. She set the trap. She pretended to be a woman they [alleged victims] could trust."
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According to the charges, Maxwell and Epstein developed relationships with young girls, grooming them by taking them on shopping trips and to the cinema.
The abuse of these women would take place around the world, at Epstein's mansion on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, his estate in Palm Beach, Florida, his ranch in Sante Fe, New Mexico, and at Maxwell's home in London.
Featured Image Credit: BBC NewswnightTopics: Jeffrey Epstein, News, Royals