Prince Andrew is said to be 'totally tormented' as he braces himself for the scandal over his links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein to reignite in the New Year.

The Mail on Sunday has learned the Duke of York's name will appear alongside those of scores of Epstein's powerful friends – some of whom have not previously been publicly identified – when a tranche of court documents are published.

The prospect of once again facing intense scrutiny over his friendship with Epstein is said to have plunged Andrew into deep despair ahead of Christmas, which he is expected to spend in Sandringham with his brother King Charles and other Royals.

'Andrew's name is in there,' one source said. 'He is beside himself with this latest development and everyone close to him is concerned for his mental wellbeing.

'He is at a loss, totally tormented. He is facing his second Christmas without his mother and now the New Year is going to start with his name being dragged through the mud all over again.'

American judge Loretta Preska last week ruled that documents relating to more than 170 people who were either associates, friends or victims of multi-millionaire sex offender Epstein should be made public in early January.

The documents are part of a US defamation case Andrew's accuser Virginia Roberts brought against Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite who supplied Epstein with underage girls, in 2015

While the case was settled out of court two years later, The Miami Herald successfully fought to get the papers made public.