Prince Andrew Photo: VCG

Britain's Prince Andrew was sued in a New York court Monday for alleged sexual abuse of a woman who says she was "lent out" for underage sex by late US financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The filing at the US district court in Manhattan said Virginia Giuffre was the plaintiff in the case against the defendant, named as "Prince Andrew, Duke of York."

Giuffre alleged in the filing that she "was regularly abused by Epstein and was lent out by Epstein to other powerful men for sexual purposes."

"One such powerful man... was the Defendant, Prince Andrew."

According to the complaint, Giuffre said Andrew sexually abused her at the London home of socialite Ghislaine Maxwell more than 20 years ago, when she was under 18.

"Epstein, Maxwell, and Prince Andrew forced [the] Plaintiff, a child, to have sexual intercourse with Prince Andrew against her will," it said.

Andrew, 61, has vehemently denied claims he had sex with Giuffre, and said he has no recollection of meeting her, but the allegations threaten to damage the British royal family.

Andrew, the Queen's second son, stepped back from royal duties in 2019 over his friendship with Epstein.

Giuffre also claims Andrew abused her at Epstein's New York mansion and on Little St. James, Epstein's private island in the US Virgin Islands.

AFP