‘Unthinkable’ for Prince Andrew not to testify in U.S. sex suit

Duke seeks to give a virtual deposition from London

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Embattled Prince Andrew has reportedly told toadies he won’t go to New York to testify in the explosive sex abuse lawsuit launched by one of pal Jeffrey Epstein’s sex slaves.

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Virginia Roberts Giuffre claims the rogue royal sexually assaulted her on three occasions when she was underage. Now, she’s suing him.

But the tone-deaf toff — stripped last week of his military titles and HRH — will instead give a virtual deposition from London. It is believed the case will go to court in the autumn.

“It would be very bad for him not to be present, it’s unthinkable,” a Giuffre source told the New York Post.

At the same time, Andrew has to find the cash to fight the epic legal battle — or possibly settle out of court with Giuffre. He recently sold his beloved $30-million Swiss ski chalet as the Queen has kicked him out of the palace cookie jar.

But he won’t be setting up a tent in Hyde Park back in the U.K. He paid a one-time fee of $2 million in 2003 to live in his 30-room mansion, or about $400 per week.

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“Andrew certainly won’t be made homeless,” Joe Little, Majesty magazine managing editor, told the Post. “The lease has been granted.”

The Queen is said to be profoundly disappointed in her son and his antics. Andrew was a great pal to billionaire pedo Epstein and his sex-trafficking partner in crime, disgraced socialite Ghislaine Maxwell.

All that is left is to strip Andrew of his Duke of York and Prince titles.

“The Queen has done virtually everything that she can do now, but there is one thing left — stripping him of the title of Duke of York and Prince. That would be the ultimate humiliation,” Duncan Larcombe, former royal editor of the U.K. Sun, said.

“Conceivably, if the court case does not go his way at all, and there is a genuine backlash in Britain — if he became public enemy No. 1 — the Queen could look at that and make him just ‘Andrew.’”

And it looks like his exile is forever with “no chance” of the Duke returning to the fold, Larcombe said.

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