LONDON (AP) — Former Prince Andrew, currently known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, has been summoned to testify as a witness in a civil fraud trial, a historic event believed to be the first instance in over 150 years that a member of the British royal family has received such a summons. This development was reported by British media on Wednesday.
The summons was authorized by a judge at the High Court in London, who granted permission for Mountbatten-Windsor to be called to provide testimony regarding payments he allegedly received related to the case. While the former prince has the option to apply to have the summons overturned, it remains uncertain whether he will ultimately testify.
The lawsuit stems from allegations made by Turkish citizen Nebahat Evyap Isbilen, who claims that her former adviser, Selman Turk, misappropriated tens of millions of pounds from her. In her court filings, Isbilen indicates that Turk misled her about a payment of £750,000 (approximately $1 million) that he facilitated for her to make to Mountbatten-Windsor in 2019.
Mountbatten-Windsor, who holds the title of the younger brother of King Charles III, repaid the disputed amount in 2021, and it is important to note that he is not a party in the ongoing lawsuit.
According to Turk, Isbilen authorized the payment as she hoped that Mountbatten-Windsor could use his connections to assist her husband, who has been incarcerated in Turkey since 2015. Isbilen asserts that her husband is a victim of political persecution.
Legal representatives for Isbilen stated last month that they believed this summons would mark the first occasion since 1870 that a royal family member has been called to testify. The last instance involved the future King Edward VII, who, while still the Prince of Wales, was summoned to testify in a divorce case. He accepted the summons and denied any improper relations with Harriet Mordaunt, the wife of the petitioner, Charles Mordaunt.
Mountbatten-Windsor is currently facing additional legal scrutiny as multiple British police forces are investigating his connections to the convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. These investigations were launched following the release of extensive documents by the U.S. Department of Justice earlier this year, detailing their findings related to Epstein.
In late 2025, King Charles III stripped Mountbatten-Windsor of his princely titles in an effort to protect the royal family from the fallout surrounding his brother's association with Epstein. The controversies continue to cast a shadow over the royal family, as they navigate the implications of this legal situation and its potential impact on their public image.
