US authorities have formally asked Prince Andrew to answer questions about the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The Department of Justice has submitted a mutual legal assistance (MLA) request to the Home Office.

MLA requests are used to obtain assistance when co-operation cannot be obtained by law enforcement agencies.

The Home Office said it is “usual policy” that the existence of a request is neither confirmed nor denied.

The MLA comes after last month’s four-part Netflix documentary about the Epstein affair.

The series spoke to Virginia Roberts Giuffre who claims she had sex with the Prince in 2001.

Virginia Roberts Giuffre

She claimed she had been “trafficked” to Britain by the American multi-millionaire Epstein.

Ms Giuffre has urged Prince Andrew to speak to the authorities in the US.

But it is claimed by a lawyer the royal has “completely shut the door” on co-operating with investigators.

Prince Andrew denies he had any form of sexual contact or relationship with Ms Giuffre.

He stood down from royal duties after a “nightmare” interview on the BBC’s Newsnight programme.

Four days after the “car crash” with reporter Emily Maitlis, Prince Andrew said he was “willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required”.

However, Geoffrey Berman, the lawyer leading the Epstein inquiry, said in March:

“Contrary to Prince Andrew’s very public offer to co-operate with our investigation into Epstein’s co-conspirators, an offer that was conveyed via press release, Prince Andrew has now completely shut the door on voluntary co-operation and our office is considering its options.”

Epstein killed himself in his jail cell while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.