PRINCE Andrew spent time with several young women and controversial film director Woody Allen while staying with paedophile friend Jeffrey Epstein in the United States, it has been claimed.

At least five girls were spotted going into Epstein’s New York mansion during Andrew’s 2010 visit, it has been claimed.

American Virginia Roberts, 31, has claimed she was forced to have sex three times with the Duke of York when she was 17, which in Florida is below the age of consent.

In explosive court papers she claimed she was recruited as a 15-year-old, turned into Epstein’s “sex slave”, and paid cash to sleep with his rich and famous friends.

It’s claimed Allen, 79, who caused outrage when he began a relationship with his young stepdaughter, Soon-Yi, in 1992, was one of the few male visitors to Epstein’s plush pad.

Neighbours say he arrived just before a Sunday lunch with Soon-Yi, 35 years his junior and now his wife, and the pair spent more than an hour inside.

Allen’s adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow, has accused him of sexually abusing her as a child — a claim Allen denies.

Andrew, 54, stayed with the shamed Epstein, 61, for four days in December 2010, shortly after the billionaire financier had finished a jail sentence on child prostitution charges.

Epstein was convicted in 2008 of soliciting an under-age girl for prostitution and jailed for 18 months.

The comings and goings were said to have been witnessed by Andrew’s royal bodyguards. New York police were also on duty in the Manhattan street as the prince remained holed up in Epstein’s palatial seven-storey home.

At one point during Andrew’s visit, TV star and neighbour Bill Cosby — now the subject of multiple rape allegations — asked about the excessive security.

A local said Andrew’s visit caused quite a stir. “Andrew barely left the house but lots of people, including Woody Allen and several young women, were seen going in while he was there,” the local said.

After photos emerged of Epstein and the prince walking together, Buckingham Palace ordered Andrew to end the friendship.

Buckingham Palace insists the prince never had any sexual contact with Ms Roberts, with whom he was once pictured, an arm around her.

andrew.jefferson@news.com.au

Twitter: @Jeffo18091971