US lawmakers want to quiz Andrew over Epstein links

Calls for Andrew Mountbatten Windsor to answer questions over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein in the US have intensified after the former prince was stripped of his titles.

- NICOLE WOOTTON-CANE REBECCA WHITTAKER

King Charles removed Andrew's royal titles and confirmed on Thursday he will evict the disgraced royal from his mansion in the grounds of Windsor Castle amid outrage over fresh allegations tied to his relationship with sex offender Epstein.

Buckingham Palace said the censures were needed even though Andrew has continued to deny the allegations made against him.

Lawmakers in the US have now ramped up their calls for Andrew to hand over information on Epstein's crimes to a House oversight committee, with key figures saying he may even be able to speak to a congressional committee remotely via video link.

The BBC reported that at least four Democrat members of the committee investigating the US government's handling of the Epstein case had renewed calls for Andrew to testify.

Democrat congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said he would be willing to formally call Andrew to testify, but admitted it may be hard to enforce with the former prince outside the US.

"However, if Andrew wishes to come to the United States or he's here, then he's subject to the jurisdiction of the US Congress, and I would expect him to testify," he told the BBC.

"At the end of the day, we want to know exactly what happened, not just to give justice to the survivors, but to prevent this from ever happening again.