Prince Andrew has 'no intention' of assisting the Epstein investigation

After facing public scrutiny over allegations of sexually assaulting an underaged girl provided by sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, it is understood Prince Andrew will not assist US authorities in the investigation.

In a disastrous interview with the BBC, the prince previously stated he would assist in investigations, however The Mirror reports a royal source claims he has changed his mind.

"Andrew has no intention of speaking to US authorities. He has nothing to say and nothing to add," the insider said.

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"He sees no reason why anyone would want to speak to him and now that his case has been settled with Virginia Giuffre, he considers the matter settled."

Andrew, Queen Elizabeth II's third child and the Duke of York, was accused of participating in sexual activities with Virginia Giuffre in 2001. Giuffre, who was 17 at the time, alleged he sexually assaulted her on three separate occasions in 2001. 

Giuffre claims she was trafficked by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his partner Ghislaine Maxwell, and "passed around like a platter of fruit" among the couple's powerful associates.

Andrew denies Giuffre's accusations and claims he does not remember ever meeting Giuffre.

A now-famous photo emerged of the Duke with his hand around the young Giuffre's hip, posing in front of Ghislaine Maxwell. According to The Guardian, Giuffre's allegations have never been tested in court.

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Andrew reached an undisclosed settlement with his accuser earlier this year, bringing an end to the legal proceedings. 

Since then, the duke has largely withdrawn from public life. 

On Wednesday, Epstein's ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison for helping her partner sexually abuse teenage girls.

For Epstein's victims, the sentence has provided some sense of closure – one they never received from Epstein as he committed suicide before facing his own sex trafficking trial.