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The Duke of York believes that claims made against him by a “sex slave” of the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein “feel like a witch-hunt with absolutely no evidence” of any wrongdoing the Evening Standard can reveal.

A source close to the Queen’s second son responded to accuser Virginia Roberts — who declared yesterday: “He knows exactly what he’s done” — by saying: “Yes, he does know exactly what he’s done ... nothing.”

Prince Andrew has faced allegations that he had sex three times with Ms Roberts, 36, now known as Virginia Roberts Giuffre, when she was 17. The prince has “categorically” denied the claims. The source insisted Andrew does not remember ever meeting Miss Roberts and also cast doubt on a photograph showing them together in 2001.

The source told the Standard: “Her claims are categorically untrue. Sadly, if you go through her testimony there are so many inconsistencies.

“The judge said five years ago that testimony was immaterial and impertinent to any application, and should be stricken. There was not one shred of evidence incriminating the duke then and nothing has changed.

“Claims that Miss Roberts went to Tramp nightclub in London with the duke and he was drinking cocktails with her are just not true. The duke doesn’t drink, he is teetotal, anyone who really knows him knows that.

“One should ask if Miss Roberts, now Giuffre, believed this is why did she not say something in 2011 when this all first started.”

The Standard has learned that Andrew’s lawyers have repeatedly asked to be shown the original photograph. He has “absolutely no recollection” of the picture — allegedly showing him with his arm around Ms Roberts Giuffre — ever being taken.

One source told the Standard: “Look at his fingers in the photo. The duke has quite chubby fingers, they don’t look right and nor does the height of the duke and the girl.

“I understand his legal team have asked to have proper sight of the original photograph so they can carry out their own investigation as they seriously doubt its veracity. The records show the newspaper paid £140,000 for the copy of the photograph.”

A senior source said: “The duke is adamant and has been consistent since 2011 that he does not recall ever meeting Miss Roberts, let alone the photo being taken.

“Many close to the duke, who know him well, believe this is witch-hunt based on absolutely no evidence. I know that HRH feels deeply for the victims of Epstein but he has no way to respond ... other than to continue his denials because he had no knowledge of them.”

Another source said: “He is guilty only of showing misplaced loyalty to a friend and a lack of judgment in his choice of friend. He accepts that was a mistake and has apologised for that.”

Yesterday Ms Roberts Giuffre urged Prince Andrew to “come clean” after speaking at a hearing in New York with other Epstein victims.

The mother of three claimed in a 2015 lawsuit that she had sex with Andrew when she was 17 at the London home of Epstein’s adviser Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as in New York and the Caribbean. She claimed Epstein kept her as his sex slave and robbed her of her childhood.

Dozens of women spoke about their ordeals at the hands of Epstein and his powerful friends. Epstein was found hanged in a New York prison cell on August 10.

After the hearing, Ms Roberts Giuffre, who now lives in Australia, said it was important for the authorities to push on with their investigation into Epstein’s network.

She said: “It’s not how Jeffrey died but it’s how he lived but we need to get to the bottom of everybody who was involved in that, starting with Ghislaine Maxwell and going along the lines there. I was recruited at a very young age from Mar-a-Lago and entrapped in a world that I didn’t understand. I’ve been fighting that world to this day. I will never stop fighting.”

In a separate development, British actress Anouska de Georgiou, who went to school with the Duchess of Cambridge, spoke about her abuse at the hands of Epstein over more than seven years.

The 42-year-old said she met the banker when she was “young and full of the foolishness of a teenager.” She added: “Jeffrey Epstein manipulated me, corrupted me and sexually assaulted me.”