American authorities have reportedly asked the UK for help in making Prince Andrew available for questioning over his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The notorious billionaire died in prison last year while awaiting trial on new charges.
Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, has allegedly so far refused to be questioned by US authorities and lawyers representing Epstein's victims although he has claimed he's innocent.
According to The Sun, a frustrated US Department of Justice has now filed a formal ''Mutual Legal Assistance'' (MLA) request to the UK's Home Office, bypassing Buckingham Palace.
If such a request was approved, the FBI could ask that the prince be compelled to go to a UK court to give evidence under oath as a witness.
"The Department of Justice has formally told the UK the Duke of York is now caught up in a criminal probe for the first time," reports The Sun.
"It means Andrew, who 'categorically denies' any wrongdoing, could now be forced to appear in a UK court as a witness within months.
"The move also piles pressure on the Duke to give evidence - and on the UK government to assist."
If the US wants to extradite Andrew, they would have to obtain an arrest warrant or a grand jury indictment to make a request to the UK.
Prince Andrew stood down from royal duties in November after a much ridiculed Newsnight interview.
In the interview, he denied claims by Virginia Giuffre he had sex with her after she was trafficked by Epstein.
He also said he was "willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency" at the time and reportedly became "angry and bewildered" at later claims he was refusing to cooperate with US authorities.
