Prince Andrew ‘wants to remarry ex-wife Fergie’ if he beats lawsuit filed by Virginia Roberts Giuffre

The Duke of York and his ex-wife are said to be “closer than ever” as a high profile lawsuit that accuses him of sex abuse progresses in New York.

Prince Andrew apparently wants to remarry his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson if he can beat a sexual abuse lawsuit.

The pair has been living together during the pandemic as lawyers for Australian-based Virginia Roberts Giuffre sought to serve the prince court papers, according to a report in Vanity Fair magazine.

“Sarah and Andrew have been closer than ever in the past year,” a source reportedly told the outlet.

“They still love and care for each other a great deal and have been living together during the pandemic. It has rekindled something and I can see a second wedding happening if it all goes Andrew’s way.”

Prince Andrew, the Duke of York and now ex-wife Sarah Ferguson at their wedding in 1986, while Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Mother look on. Picture: AFP.

News of the romance rekindling during the pandemic lockdowns comes as the Queen reportedly supported Prince Charles’ plan to keep his younger brother out of the public spotlight.

Royal biographer Angela Levin, author of Harry: Biography of a Prince, told TalkRadio on Wednesday that the Queen didn’t think Prince Andrew could return to public duties.

“She adores Andrew and enjoys his company and I think that she won’t overrule what Charles says and the rest of the royals who won’t want him to [return to public duties],” she said.

Prince Andrew vehemently denies allegations from Giuffre, 38, who claims she was trafficked by Prince Andrew’s former friend and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein to have sex with the Duke when she was just 17.

Prince Andrew vehemently denies allegations that he had sex with Virginia Roberts Giuffre when she was 17. Picture: AFP

The Duke of York enlisted a Hollywood “super lawyer” in a bid to get the lawsuit thrown out in New York, reportedly changing the strategy of the prince’s London-based legal team.

The legal counsel had planned on “stonewalling” civil case proceedings that began in New York on Monday, according to the UK’s Telegraph.

But the newly hired lead counsel, Andrew Brettler, warned it would not help to ignore the judge’s order to respond in court.

Mr Brettler specialises in media and entertainment litigation and employment law and represents actor Armie Hammer.

He told the federal court in New York that it was a “non-viable and potentially unlawful” case should be dismissed, The Sun reports.

He argued that Prince Andrew was not properly served court papers, rendering it null and void.

Prince Andrew has hired Hollywood lawyer Andrew B. Brettler. Picture: Supplied

But Ms Giuffre’s lawyers insist the Duke has been served court papers in accordance with English and international law.

They say a copy of the summons was left with police at the gate of Windsor Royal Lodge on August 27.

But Prince Andrew’s legal team claims the papers should have been served through a British court official.

Prince Andrew with Virginia Roberts Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2001. Picture: Florida Southern District Court/Supplied

Judge Lewis Kaplan gave Ms Giuffre’s team another week to serve the Duke with the papers.

He reportedly appeared unimpressed by the argument made by Andrew’s team, and told them: “You have a pretty high degree of certainty that he can be served sooner than later.

“Let’s cut out all the technicalities and get to the substance.”

David Boies, who is representing Ms Giuffre, told the court the papers had been served in “several ways”, including to Prince Andrew’s last-known address.

Mr Boies added: “We would ask the court to grant an alternative means of service in the interests of moving the lawsuit along.”

Mr Brettler said the High Court in the UK “is going to have to determine whether service to date has been affected properly on the Duke.”

But the judge warned him that the case “will be litigated” in the US, regardless of a High Court intervention.

It was not clear if Prince Andrew was listening in to the pre-trial hearing.

Mr Brettler has also represented That 70s Show actor Danny Masterson and performer Chris Brown.

He has been named one of Southern California’s “super lawyers” by trade publications, and has appeared in The Hollywood Reporter’s 2019 Power Lawyers and Hollywood’s Top 100 Attorneys.