Prince Andrew news - live: Documentary to claim royal was intimate with Maxwell and Lady Hervey was ‘bait’

Good afternoon from London, and welcome to The Independent’s liveblog on Prince Andrew.

Prince Andrew and the convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell might have had a relationship, an ITV documentary has been told.

“I got the sense that Prince Andrew and Ghislaine had probably been girlfriend and boyfriend in the past. They had an easy warmth around each other,” Euan Rellie, a friend of Maxwell’s from university, said.

Here’s my colleague Holly Bancroft with further details:

Lisa Bloom has been an attorney for three decades.

The UCLA and Yale Law School graduate, who represented eight of Epstein’s victims, of whom one “had allegations” against Ghislaine Maxwell, watched and analysed the British socialite’s trial closely.

She told Clémence Michallon that she cried on hearing the guilty verdict against Maxwell. “I had sat with them for years and heard the suffering that they have gone through,” Bloom says. “I mean, lifelong suffering … So when that verdict came in, it was deeply moving that at last she was brought to justice.”

Prince Andrew may have had relationship with Maxwell, former friend claims

Devon and Cornwall Police have removed a plaque commemorating Prince Andrew’s opening of a police station in Torquay.

The plaque, which had been there for more than 20 years, was taken down after the Duke of York was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages last week, ahead of the civil sexual abuse trial he faces in the US.

Assistant Chief Constable Jim Nye confirmed: “Following a complaint we received from a member of the public, a decision was made to move the plaque from public display.

“The recent removal of Prince Andrew’s military affiliations and royal patronages were also taken into account when making this decision.”

My colleague Thomas Kingsley reports:

York Racecourse wants to change the name of its well-known Duke of York Stakes in a bid to distance itself from Prince Andrew, reports have suggested.

Although the race was named after Prince George, who went on to become King George V, in 1895, bosses fear people will associate it with Andrew.

James Brennan, the head of marketing at York Racecourse, told the Yorkshire Post: “It was named in honour of Prince George who went on to become King George V. It has never been directly about Prince Andrew.

“With that in mind, however, we are going to explore how we can make the name a lot clearer about its history - and that the name refers to an entirely different Duke of York.”

Ghislaine, Prince Andrew & the Paedophile - a documentary made by ITV - will air this evening at 9pm.

In addition to interviews alleging that the Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell were lovers, ITV’s Ranvir Singh speaks to Scotty David, a juror at Maxwell’s trial.

Mr David is one of several jurors who disclosed they were sexually abused as children, leading Maxwell’s lawyers to call for a re-trial.

Maxwell is currently awaiting sentencing for sex trafficking.

Prince Andrew and Prince Harry are both expected to be given a Platinum Jubilee medal to commemorate the Queen’s 70-year reign, it has emerged.

The report comes amid speculation they might not receive one, as neither are working royals.

Harry distanced himself from the royal family by moving to the US, where his uncle Andrew, who was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages last week, faces a civil sexual assault case. Andrew strenuously denies the allegations brought against him by Virginia Giuffre.

Hugo Vickers, a royal biographer, said that even Wallis Simpson, the widow of the Duke of Windsor, received a Silver Jubilee medal in 1977, suggesting the same should apply to Andrew and Harry.

Mr Vickers told the Daily Express: “I asked and was told, ‘She was entitled to it so she was sent one’.”

Prince Andrew would get angry if his teddy bears were ever put in the wrong place, a former member of royal staff has alleged.

Paul Page, a former royal protection officer, told an ITV documentary that staff were warned about the prince’s soft toy collection in his private apartment.

Referring to the apartment, Mr Page said: “It had about 50 or 60 stuffed toys positioned on the bed.

“And, basically, there was a card the inspector showed us in a drawer, and it was a picture of these bears all in situ on the bed.

“And the reason for the laminated picture was that, if those bears weren’t put back in the right order by the maids, he would shout and scream and become verbally abusive.”

A woman who alleges she saw Prince Andrew at a nightclub almost two decades ago with Virginia Giuffre is “willing” to testify in the upcoming trial, her lawyer has said.

“I am proud to represent Shukri Walker, who has bravely stepped forward as a witness and encourages others who may have information to do so as well,” the attorney Lisa Bloom told the Guardian in an email.

“She is willing to do the deposition Virginia Giuffre’s team is seeking,” she added.

Prince Andrew is being sued by Ms Giuffre over sexual assault allegations. He strongly denies any wrongdoing.