Prince Andrew is facing a private prosecution over allegations of sexual assault, corruption and misconduct in public office in the wake of the Virginia Giuffre scandal.

Anti–monarchy campaign group Republic says it has instructed lawyers to investigate the prince and, if appropriate, press ahead with legal proceedings.

The Daily Mail understands the allegations it is focusing on relate to allegations he sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre, that he asked a royal protection officer to look into her background and impropriety when he served as an official UK trade envoy.

Andrew is alleged to have sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre when she was aged 17, and more recently was alleged in 2011 to have pressured one of his royal protection officers to investigate Giuffre, believing she had a criminal record.

Andrew, who has surrendered the Duke of York title and been all–but–eradicated from royal life, has previously denied all allegations against him.

But Republic says it is mounting its own bid to take him to court because the legal and political response to the claims has been 'weak and inadequate' to date.

It says it has made a 'powerful, principled argument for justice to be done for the victims of sexual abuse, and for those who corrupt public office to be held accountable'.

'If not us, then who?' asked Graham Smith, CEO of the anti–monarchy group.

'It's a devastating indictment on the UK's criminal justice system, police and politicians – not to mention the king and heir – that we must resort to a private prosecution.

'It should be a cause for concern that so many people believe – rightly in my view – that the royals are not treated equally in law. Equality in law is a basic tenet of democracy.

'I firmly believe there is strong enough evidence to justify a serious investigation. The authorities and politicians appear to want to look the other way, while minimising the accusations made against Andrew.

'The truth must prevail and justice must be seen to be done.'

A private prosecution brought by Republic would not involve a statutory prosecutor such as Crown Prosecution Service, which brings cases on behalf of the Crown.

They are commonly brought by organisations such as the RSPCA, but can be brought by private individuals.

In some cases, a party wishing to bring a private prosecution may have to seek the consent of the Government's top legal adviser the Attorney General, or the Director of Public Prosecutions, who is the head of the CPS.

The CPS also has the right to take on a private prosecution - and even to bring it to an end if it considers the prosecution to be brought maliciously.

Giuffre, who died by suicide on April 25 this year, alleged in her posthumous memoir Nobody's Girl that Andrew was 'entitled – as if he believed having sex with me was his birthright'.

She also outlined three occasions on which the Duke had sex with her, including at convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell's house in London.

The Duke has denied ever meeting Virginia Giuffre. In 2022, he settled a US civil case she lodged for a reported £12million, reportedly receiving money from his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, to help meet the costs.

The settlement came with no admission of liability.

The Metropolitan Police said in January 2024 that it would not mount an investigation into allegations against the Duke of York, but would assess 'new and relevant' information as and when it came to light.

However, it said earlier this month it was 'actively' looking into the claims Andrew had asked his personal protection officer to investigate Ms Giuffre, and the Mail on Sunday understands he was interviewed by detectives at home last week.

A bombshell email published by the Mail on Sunday earlier this month revealed how Andrew asked his taxpayer–funded protection officer to dig into her past, two months after the infamous photo of him with Giuffre and Maxwell came to light.

In an extraordinary message to Ed Perkins, Queen Elizabeth's deputy press secretary, he wrote: 'It would also seem she has a criminal record in the States. I have given her DoB [date of birth] and social security number for investigation with XXX, the on duty ppo [personal protection officer].'

It emerged earlier this month that Andrew had also told Jeffrey Epstein 'we are in this together' in an email sent after the picture of Giuffre was first published by the Mail on Sunday in 2011.

The Mail on Sunday revealed that he told his friend that he was 'concerned' about the picture, but added that he believed the pair would 'rise above' public scrutiny.

The email was sent in April 2011, some 12 weeks after he had told the BBC in the now–infamous Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis that he had ceased contact with the paedophile.

'I'm just as concerned for you! Don't worry about me! It would seem we are in this together and will have to rise above it,' the ex–Duke had written.

'Otherwise keep in close touch and we'll play some more soon!!!!'

Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, also described Epstein as a 'supreme friend' weeks after telling the Evening Standard that she would 'never have anything to do with' him again.

Fergie, who was dropped by multiple charities and broadcaster ITV in the aftermath, has also faced claims that she was bankrolled by Epstein for 15 years.

Epstein died by suicide in prison in August 2019 while being held awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Andrew's opinion among Brits has nosedived  to the point he has a 91 per cent negative approval rating among the British public, according to YouGov research published today.

The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Princess Royal continue to enjoy high approval ratings of at least 70 per cent, while more than six in 10 people have a positive view of the King.

However, Andrew's children Beatrice and Eugenie have approval ratings of just 37 and 36 per cent, respectively. Harry and Meghan have the approval of 30 and 21 per cent of Brits.

The pollster said: 'Given his already low levels of popularity, there wasn’t much further for opinion on Prince Andrew to sink.'

The latest revelations - and the threat of a knock-on effect to the wider institution of the royal family - prompted royal biographer Andrew Lownie to predict that Andrew and his ex-wife, the former Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson, stand a 'very good chance' of going to prison.

He told TalkTV this week: 'I do think the authorities will want to pursue some of these investigations. They will bring charges. I think if they do so there is a very good chance that both he and Sarah Ferguson may well go to prison.'

Graham Smith of Republic later told Sky News that there is 'plenty of evidence to have grounds of suspicion that need to be properly investigated'.

'The police have said they have looked into it which is not the same as a criminal investigation,' he said.

'What we're trying to do is ensure it is properly investigated by instructing a team of specialist lawyers and if there is sufficient evidence to pursue it in court we will pursue a private prosecution.'

He added: 'In terms of sexual offences (the Met) has investigated and successfully prosecuted offences going back to the 1970s. Andrew's alleged offences were 25 years ago and he had police guarding him and protecting him at the time.

'The bar for proving criminal guilt is high but we don't believe the response so far has been appropriate from the police or the politicians.'

It comes amid an almost complete disconnection from the Royal Family for Andrew, who stepped back from official duties in 2019 and had his honorary military affiliations and royal charitable patronages removed in 2022.

Earlier this month, he agreed to stop using the Duke of York title and his other entitlements, with the exception of the title 'prince', following 'discussions with the King'.

His banner was also removed from Windsor Castle's chapel, leaving a notable gap, after he relinquished the Order of the Garter.

Andrew is reportedly in talks to leave the 30–room, Grade II listed Royal Lodge on the Windsor Estate, where he has lived since 2004 for a peppercorn rent.

The former Duke of York is said to have finally surrendered following pressure from Prince William, who is alleged to have threatened to strip his daughters' titles away.

Andrew could be in line for a payout because departing will breach his 'cast iron' 75–year lease on the home, which he had shared with his ex–wife.

The pair are reported to be eyeing up Frogmore Cottage – once home to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – and Adelaide Cottage, currently the home of the Prince and Princess of Wales and their family.

As reported by the Mail's Royal Editor Rebecca English, royal staff have been told not to give Andrew any horses to ride amid the ever-developing scandal.

The prince has had few hobbies left open to him since disappearing from public life, but going out hacking in the grounds of the Windsor Estate was among them - until stable staff were discouraged from taking mounts to him at Royal Lodge.

Sources have indicated that Andrew has now been told to 'keep his head down' - and now spends his time playing video games such as war shooter Call of Duty on a giant television screen.

Republic, which calls for the dissolution of the monarchy, has been actively campaigning for a criminal investigation into Prince Andrew this month.

A poll conducted by Savanta earlier this month suggested support for the British monarchy has fallen below 50 per cent to 46 per cent, with 39 per cent actively opposing it as an institution.

The survey, commissioned by Republic, found that 61 per cent also believe the Royal Family knew about Andrew's alleged behaviour before it became public knowledge.

More than half of those asked believe there should be an inquiry, and 77 per cent say Andrew should face a criminal investigation.

Activists stood outside the entrance to Royal Lodge with banners reading 'end royal secrecy' and 'Royal Epstein inquiry now' two weeks ago.

A member of Republic is also thought to have been the man seen heckling King Charles during a visit to Lichfield Cathedral earlier this week.

The man shouted at the King, who is Andrew's brother: 'How long have you known about Andrew and Epstein? Have you asked the police to cover up for Andrew?'

He was told to 'shut up' by another member of the crowd, but went on to ask: 'Should MPs be allowed to debate the royals in the House of Commons?'