It identifies to whom it attributes that sexual abuse."

Giuffre alleged in the lawsuit that the late financier Jeffrey Epstein trafficked her and forced her to have sex with his friends, including the Prince, and that Andrew was aware she was underage (17) in the US at the time.

The long-running allegations against Andrew, 61, have already dramatically tarnished his public standing, and he stepped back from royal duties in late 2019.

Andrew has until July 14 to potentially answer questions about the case under oath, following a ruling made by Kaplan last year.

If the case is not settled, Prince Andrew could face a trial date between September and December 2022.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment, saying, "We would not comment on what is an ongoing legal matter."

Giuffre's attorney Sigrid McCawley said the judge's ruling is "another important step in Virginia's heroic and determined pursuit of justice as a survivor of sex trafficking."

The civil suit stems from the sprawling and disturbing allegations against Epstein, the wealthy sex offender who befriended a series of powerful men despite a sketchy history.

Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to state prostitution charges and in July 2019 was indicted on federal sex trafficking charges.

Prince Andrew's attorneys argued that the law is unconstitutional, but the judge rejected the argument, citing another judge's analysis that this line of argument was "creative" but "without merit."

In claims made prior to filing her lawsuit, Giuffre alleged that in 2001 Epstein brought her to London, where she was introduced to Prince Andrew and went dancing at a nightclub with Epstein, Maxwell and the Prince.

In a BBC interview broadcast in 2019, Giuffre said she had been taken to the Tramp nightclub where, Giuffre alleged, Andrew asked her to dance and was "sweating all over me."

Andrew has denied the claims, telling the BBC in 2019: "It didn't happen.