SECURITY Minister Damian Hinds refused to confirm today whether taxpayers would continue to foot the security bill for the Duke of York.

The Queen stripped the duke of his honorary military roles and HRH title on Thursday as he faces accusations that he forced United States citizen Virginia Giuffre to have sex with him when she was 17.

He strenuously denies the accusation.

Speaking on LBC yesterday about who receives security, Mr Hinds said: “It is a long standing – and I think correct principle that we don’t talk about who and how in particular. And we don’t publicise exactly what that covers.”

The US court dismissed a motion by Prince Andrew’s lawyers to have the lawsuit dismissed on Wednesday after they argued Ms Giuffre had waived her right to pursue the duke by signing a confidential settlement with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Ms Giuffre welcomed the ruling, saying: “I’m glad I will have the chance to continue to expose the truth.

“My goal has always been to show that the rich and powerful are not above the law and must be held accountable.”

Republic chief executive Graham Smith called on the Queen’s second son to foot the bill for his own police protection as there was no prospect of him returning to royal duties.

On the Queen’s decision to strip the duke of his military affiliations, he said: “This is all about protecting the monarchy, it’s not about a mother doing the right thing by her son and it’s not about worrying about the justice for the women abused by Epstein and his friends, it’s about protecting the royals for the future generations.”