Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been served with a witness summons requiring him to give evidence in a High Court fraud trial, reportedly the first time a member of the Royal Family has been compelled to testify as a witness since the 19th century.

The former Duke of York, 66, is expected to appear in court in mid-December, either in person or by video link, with his evidence anticipated around 15 December. He is not a defendant in the case and is not accused of any wrongdoing, but he is likely to face questions about his finances and about a disputed payment of £750,000.

The trial, due to begin in the week of 16 November and expected to last 11 weeks, centres on a claim by Turkish businesswoman Nebahat Isbilen against her former financial adviser, Selman Turk. Mrs Isbilen alleges that Mr Turk misled her over the £750,000 payment made to Andrew in November 2019, which was later repaid. Her lawyers have told the court tens of millions of pounds of her funds were misappropriated, which Mr Turk strongly denies.

Mr Turk is also said to have made other payments to the family, including £350,000 to Andrew and £225,000 to the former Duchess of York.

Mr Justice Adam Johnson ruled on 23 October that Mr Turk should be allowed to call Andrew, saying fairness required Mr Turk be given the chance to put forward the evidence he considered relevant. The judge noted Andrew would probably have declined to give a witness statement voluntarily. Andrew may ask the court to set the summons aside, so his appearance is not yet guaranteed. His evidence would be his first public questioning since his 2019 BBC Newsnight interview. Read The Sun's report here.