Prince Andrew’s lawyers have claimed his sexual assault accuser is chasing “another payday” ahead of a lawsuit against the Royal Family member.
Virginia Giuffre has accused the Duke of York of sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager in an alleged incident more than 20 years ago.
The now 38-year-old has claimed she was trafficked by convicted by sex offender Jeffery Epstein, who was a former friend of Prince Andrew.
Lawyers for the Queen’s son have branded the allegations as “baseless” and “false” in a document filed to a district court in America on Friday.
The document, which has been signed by lawyer Andrew Brettler, said: “Accusing a member of the world's best known royal family of serious misconduct has helped Giuffre create a media frenzy online and in the traditional press.
"It is unfortunate, but undeniable, that sensationalism and innuendo have prevailed over the truth.
"Giuffre has initiated this baseless lawsuit against Prince Andrew to achieve another payday at his expense and at the expense of those closest to him. Epstein's abuse of Giuffre does not justify her public campaign against Prince Andrew.”
The filing says Ms Giuffre settled sex trafficking and abuse claims against Epstein in 2009 with a "broad release" negotiated by the convicted sex offender "insisting that it cover any and all persons who Giuffre identified as potential targets of future lawsuits, regardless of the merit - or lack thereof - to any such claims".
The agreement, which remains sealed, is said to cover "royalty" according to Friday's filing, and therefore "the Court must dismiss her claims here in light of the plain language of the Release Agreement."
It added: "Virginia Giuffre may well be a victim of sexual abuse at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein, and nothing can excuse, nor fully capture, the abhorrence and gravity of Epstein's monstrous behaviour against Giuffre, if so.
"However, and without diminishing the harm suffered as a results of Epstein's alleged misconduct, Prince Andrew never sexually abused or assaulted Giuffre.
"He unequivocally denies Giuffre's false allegations against him."
Separately, a lawyer for Ms Giuffre told The Daily Telegraph the Duke's interview on Newsnight where he discussed the allegations will form part of the case against him.
Sigrid McCawley was quoted in the paper saying: "Frankly, it was very helpful for us.
"I don't know who would have advised him to do that, it was a very wrong move on his part to expose himself in that way."
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