Prince Andrew’s legal team have asked for the picture of him and Virginia Roberts

Prince Andrew’s legal team have asked his sex assault accuser Virginia Roberts for a critical piece of evidence, which could help end one wild theory.

Prince Andrew’s lawyers wants Virginia Roberts to hand over a critical piece of evidence to them.

The Duke of York’s legal team is understood to have asked his sex assault accuser Virginia Roberts for the original copy of the photo of the pair at Ghislaine Maxwell’s home in London.

The infamous picture was taken in March 2001, according to Ms Roberts and was snapped by paedophile Jeffrey Epstein the night she claims she was sexually assaulted by the prince.

Prince Andrew strongly denies all the allegations.

US lawyer Andrew Brettler has arranged for a photographic expert to examine the copy to test its authenticity, the I newspaper reported.

Mrs Roberts claims she met the Duke that night and they both dined, danced, and drank in Tramp nightclub in London before having sex.

Prince Andrew’s lawyers want the original copy of this picture.

Prince Andrew strongly denies all the allegations made by Virginia Roberts.

She says the picture was taken by billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Since his death, Prince Andrew’s supporters have suggested the image has been doctored.

The picture was first published in 2011 after Prince Andrew visited Epstein in New York three years after his conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution.

Ms Roberts has previously claimed a date on the back of the photo shows it was printed on March 13, 2001 - just two days after it was taken and said she has handed it over to the FBI.

Prince Andrew will face questioning from Ms Roberts’ lawyers for two days starting on March 10 - before a woman who alleges she saw the prince with Ms Giuffre at London’s Tramp nightclub in 2001, the same night as the notorious photo, is questioned.

Ms Roberts allege she was 17 when trafficked by paedophile Jeffrey Epstein to have sex with Andrew.

The duke is alleged to have sexually abused her at the homes of Ghislaine Maxwell and Epstein in the early 2000s.

A civil trial is scheduled for New York later this year.

Originally published as Prince Andrew’s legal team have asked for the picture of him and Virginia Roberts