A US judge has ordered that sex allegations made against Prince Andrew be struck from the court record.
District Judge Kenneth Marra's ruling came in a case involving the Duke of York's former friend, the wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Two women, identified as Jane Does No 3 and No 4, claim to be among dozens of women Epstein is said to have sexually abused as teenagers at locations ranging from a Palm Beach mansion to a private Caribbean island.
The women wanted to join a lawsuit in Florida filed by other alleged victims.
The lawsuit against the US government seeks to reopen a non-prosecution agreement Epstein reached with federal prosecutors.
Epstein pleaded guilty more than six years ago to state sex offences and served a 13-month jail sentence, but could have been given a much longer prison term if the Justice Department had brought charges.
Federal prosecutors opposed allowing the two Jane Does to join the lawsuit, which was filed in 2008, and District Judge Marra agreed.
"Justice does not require amendment in this instance," the judge wrote.
He also ordered that sex allegations against Prince Andrew and well-known lawyer Alan Dershowitz be struck from the court record.
Both men vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
