Prince Andrew can avoid being served with sex abuse lawsuit by staying at Balmoral

PRINCE Andrew can avoid being served with a lawsuit on sex abuse claims — by staying in his Scottish hideaway.

The High Court in London has ruled it can serve papers on the Duke of York on behalf of American lawyers after previous attempts were thwarted.

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The Duke of York avoids a lawsuit on sex abuse claims by staying in Scotland, as the English court does not have automatic jurisdiction north of the border[/caption]

Enterprise

Prince Andrew, 61, is still in hiding on the Queen’s Balmoral estate as he faces a civil lawsuit accusing him of ‘rape in the first degree’ relating to Virginia Giuffre[/caption]

But Andrew, 61, is still in hiding on the Queen’s Balmoral estate and the English court does not have automatic jurisdiction north of the border.

Insiders say the Duke could change his home address to Balmoral to stay out of reach.

The court would have to contact the Court of Session in Edinburgh to serve the papers.

A source said: “Andy and his legal team must have known Scotland would be out of reach when he scarpered up there.”

The Prince has not left the 50,000-acre property since arriving last Tuesday and has been seen dining at lodges there.

Under UK and US law, the papers could be considered served if delivered to his Royal Lodge home in Windsor.

A Royal Mail van was seen dropping off mail there yesterday.

Judge Lewis Kaplan told a pre-trial hearing in New York on Monday that he will be served “sooner or later”.

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Andy and his legal team must have known Scotland would be out of reach when he scarpered up there.

Source

The civil lawsuit accuses An­drew of “rape in the first degree” relating to Virginia Giuffre — allegations which he has always strenuously denied.

Once served, he has 21 days to respond.

Yesterday his spokesman did not want to comment.