Email correspondence between the Duke of York and Jeffrey Epstein is likely to be examined by the FBI, threatening to draw the Royal further into the scandal surrounding the late paedophile.

Agents seized two desktop computers, and an Apple device from Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands following his death and they are understood to be a significant line in the ongoing investigation.

A source with knowledge of how investigators will proceed said a “forensic” sweep of emails would be done to see which of Epstein’s friends knew what, and when, about him.

If there were any “interesting” emails to or from the Duke he could be asked to hand over his own communications or computers.

Further correspondence sent by others may concern the Duke, for example when plans were made for his visits to Epstein.

It came as lawyers for Virginia Giuffre, Epstein’s alleged teenage “sex slave,” welcomed reports that the Duke was willing to cooperate with authorities on both sides of the Atlantic.