Elizabeth Banks has shocked Graham Norton show viewers and fellow guests with a risque joke about disgraced royal Prince Andrew.

Norton, 56, attempted to embarrass the Charlie's Angels director by sharing a throwback pic of her - before she stole the show by joking that Prince Andrew's hand was in the background.

The cringe-worthy snap shows her in a white poloneck shirt with a huge amount of curly hair.

Norton says: "That's Marge Simpson hair … I've only just noticed this hand, is it someone saying, 'you'll regret this photograph'?"

Banks, 45, shot back: "That's Prince Andrew's hand"

The gag prompted gasps from fellow guests Kylie Minogue and Ricky Gervais.

Gervais sniggered "Oh God, Jesus", while Norton laughed: "Photoshop, it's just photoshop."

One Twitter user said: "Oh @ElizabethBanks you are bloody hysterical #GrahamNortonShow"

Another wrote: "Her comment about Prince Andrew love that."

A third added: "Even @rickygervais thinking, "Ooh I wouldn't have gone there" about Elizabeth Banks's Prince Andrew joke."

Andrew was sacked by the Queen and stripped of his royal duties and £249,000 (A$470,000) sovereign grant after stepping down from royal duties last week.

MORE: 'Furious' Prince Charles to confront Andrew

It came after the controversial interview with Emily Maitlis over his relationship with paedo Epstein.

In the car crash Newsnight interview, Andrew failed to express any sympathy for the victims of Epstein, who was found hanged in jail in August while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.

The Duke was also ridiculed over his repeated denials of any sexual relationship with then 17-year-old Virginia Roberts.

He claimed he had taken his daughter Princess Beatrice to a Pizza Express in Woking on the night he is accused of sleeping with Roberts, a "sex slave" of Epstein.

Andrew also said he did not regret having been a friend of Epstein, who killed himself in jail aged 66.

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.