Prince Andrew is expected to be called as a witness in a High Court fraud trial involving a substantial financial gift linked to his family, the court has confirmed. The case centers on a £750,000 payment purportedly given to the family by Selman Turk, a former Goldman Sachs banker now accused of fraud.

Selman Turk has been granted permission by the High Court to summon Prince Andrew, formally known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, as a “reluctant witness” in the proceedings. Although the prince is not accused of any wrongdoing, his involvement comes after allegations made by Nebahat Isbilen, 81, who claims that Turk defrauded her and funneled part of her fortune to the Duke and his family.

The trial, scheduled to begin next month, revolves around claims that Turk misappropriated millions from Mrs. Isbilen, whose husband is a jailed politician in Turkey. According to her allegations, payments totaling £350,000 were made to Andrew, £225,000 to Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, £25,000 to Princess Eugenie, and a £750,000 “gift” intended for Princess Beatrice’s wedding. Mrs. Isbilen’s legal team maintains that these funds were extracted without her consent after she fled to the United Kingdom.

Mr. Justice Johnson, presiding over the case, emphasized the seriousness of the allegations and allowed Turk to present his defense in the interest of fairness. The judge suggested that Prince Andrew is unlikely to volunteer his testimony and indicated that a witness summons might be necessary to compel his attendance.

Turk’s legal team denies the accusations, asserting that the former banker’s financial dealings were legitimate and expressing the belief that Prince Andrew’s testimony could corroborate this version of events. Turk previously received an award at the prince’s business initiative, Pitch@Palace.

Mrs. Isbilen’s lawyers have disclosed documents indicating substantial transfers from her accounts to the Duke of York’s household. However, there is no suggestion of impropriety by Prince Andrew or his family. The York family reportedly reached an agreement to repay an undisclosed sum as part of a separate resolution to the dispute.

The ongoing trial is expected to provide further clarity on the origins and handling of the disputed funds.