US prosecutors probing the activities of British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell and others linked to US financier Jeffrey Epstein consider Prince Andrew a person of interest in the investigation, a source familiar with the US inquiry says.

Investigators want to interview the Duke of York about his friendship with Epstein as part of their inquiry into possible co-conspirators, the source said. As a person of interest he is viewed at least as a potential witness.

Prosecutors in 2020 said Andrew had “sought to falsely portray himself to the public as eager and willing to co-operate” but had given no interview to federal authorities and had repeatedly declined requests to talk with investigators.

While Andrew – the Queen’s second son – remains a person of interest to prosecutors in the office of the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, they do not expect to be able to interview him in the foreseeable future, if ever, according to the source.

“He doesn’t seem to want to talk to us,” the source said.

Representatives of the prince declined to comment.

Last week, Virginia Giuffre, who has said she was abused by Epstein, filed a civil complaint against the prince in Manhattan federal court. Ms Giuffre, who was raised in the US but lives in Cairns, alleges Andrew forced her to have unwanted sexual intercourse at Maxwell’s London home.

The prince has denied the allegation.

Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of trafficking minors.

Ms Maxwell has pleaded not guilty to charges that she procured teenage girls for Epstein to sexually abuse between 1994 and 2004. She is expected to go on trial in November.

Prosecutors last year sent the British government a formal request, known as a mutual legal assistance treaty submission, asking for access to the prince so they could talk to him.

-AAP