London, Nov 20 Fergie, the Duchess Of York, has come a step closer to standing trial in Turkey after she was served with legal papers by Scotland Yard yesterday.

The Royal is accused of breaking laws that ban secret filming and trespassing on government property in the country.

British police were asked by authorities in Ankara for serving the documents on Sarah Ferguson, 50, whose daughters are fifth and sixth in line to the throne.

The undercover film, which the Duchess helped to make, revealed terrible conditions in Turkish orphanages.

Cameraman Chris Rogers and an ITV documentary producer were also served with legal papers.

According to reports, they request statements from the trio on their activities in Turkey, which could form the basis for an extradition request.

The producer is on another undercover job and ITV would not give his name to protect his identity.

"It is not our usual policy to comment on cases. However, the Home Office can confirm it has received a formal request for legal assistance concerning Sarah, Duchess of York. It has been referred to the Metropolitan Police to progress," the Mirror quoted a Home Office spokesman as saying.

Fergie went to Turkey last year with younger daughter Princess Eugenie, 19, to probe the treatment of mentally and physically disabled children in orphanages.

The Duchess wore a dark wig and headscarf and posed as an aid worker to get into the Saray rehabilitation centre near Ankara.

The TV expose, filmed by Rogers, showed emaciated children tied to cots by their hands and ankles and left in soiled clothes.

It sparked a furious diplomatic row, which made the Turkish government to launch an investigation into "violations" of its tough privacy laws and ban on undercover filming.

Anyone convicted of breaching "rights to privacy of communications" by filming in secret could face up to four-and-a-half years in jail.

A spokesman for Fergie, who dropped plans to write a forward for Rogers book on the orphanage story, said: "The duchess will be co-operating fully to ensure the quick resolution of this issue."

Princess Eugenie is not believed to be under investigation. (ANI)