Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, has been served with a witness summons requiring him to give evidence in a High Court fraud trial, according to the BBC.
The summons is expected to be served around December 15 and will involve Prince Andrew giving testimony and answering questions. He is not accused of wrongdoing in the case, but his financial arrangements may be scrutinized, as he reportedly received a £750,000 payment related to the disputed funds.
This marks the first public questioning Prince Andrew has faced since his 2019 Newsnight interview and is believed to be the first time a royal has been compelled to give evidence via such a summons since the 19th century.
The trial involves allegations made by Nebahat Isbilen, a wealthy Turkish woman, who claims her former financial adviser, Selman Turk, misled her and misused her wealth. Turk has denied dishonesty.
Court documents indicate that Isbilen alleges she was deceived into transferring £750,000 to Prince Andrew, believing it was for assistance with a passport. Turk contests this, stating the payment was a gift initiated by Isbilen to foster goodwill with the then-Duke and was unrelated to a passport. This payment occurred shortly after Prince Andrew's Newsnight interview and his subsequent stepping down from royal duties.
Isbilen's lawyers contacted Prince Andrew in 2021, and the money has since been repaid. However, the forthcoming trial will examine Turk's conduct, with Prince Andrew set to be a key witness.
Questions are also expected regarding another substantial payment of approximately £768,000 from Isbilen's account in January 2020. Turk claims this was a loan to Prince Andrew for the purchase of a chalet in Switzerland, a claim disputed by Isbilen and previously challenged in court.
Turk met Prince Andrew in autumn 2019 through the Pitch@Palace project, an initiative run by the former Duke. This connection led to social gatherings involving Turk, his family, Isbilen, and the then Duke and Duchess of York.
Justice Adam Johnson granted permission for Prince Andrew to be called as a witness, deeming his evidence relevant and material to the case, given the seriousness of the allegations. Turk's legal representatives have stated he denies dishonesty and anticipates being vindicated in court. Prince Andrew has been approached for a response. The trial is expected to commence later this month.