Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor ‘summoned to give evidence’ in High Court fraud trial

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been served with a summons to give evidence in a £40m fraud trial in the High Court, it has been reported.

The former Duke of York, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, is caught up in a legal battle involving a wealthy Turkish woman who alleges her former financial adviser misled her over a £750,000 payment made to Mr Mountbatten-Windsor in 2019.

It will be the first time Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has faced public questioning since his disastrous Newsnight interview in 2019, as well as an opportunity to hear his first public comments since the King stripped him of his titles last year.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor is also the first royal to be sent a witness summons since the 19th century.

It is understood he will appear in court on or before 15 December to give evidence on behalf of Selman Turk, who is being sued by Turkish national Nebahat İşbilen over allegations he misled her and used her wealth for his own interests.

Mr Turk has strongly denied dishonesty.

His representatives, Janes Solicitors, said: “The Judge concluded that the proposed evidence that Mr Turk wishes to adduce from Mr Mountbatten-Windsor appears relevant to allegations of dishonesty advanced against Mr Turk and that, in the circumstances, it would be unfair and unjust to prevent him from seeking to adduce that evidence at trial.”

The judge gave permission for the former prince to give evidence last month and the case is due to begin from mid-November.

Mr Turk has claimed the £750,000 was a loan to Mr Mountbatten-Windsor for the purchase of a chalet in Switzerland.

But Mrs İşbilen has alleged that Mr Turk misled her into making the payment by saying she needed to make a purported “gift” for assistance that the then Duke of York had provided in relation to Mrs İşbilen’s Turkish passport.