Britain's Prince Andrew denies having sex with underage girl

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Britain's Prince Andrew denies having sex with underage girl

PUBLISHED : Saturday, 24 January, 2015, 4:00am
UPDATED : Saturday, 24 January, 2015, 12:20pm

Reuters in Davos, Switzerland

Prince Andrew made his first public comment as the investigation into the sex slavery case of close friend Jeffrey Epstein continues. Photo: Reuters

Britain's Prince Andrew has made his first public comment on allegations that he had had sex with an underage girl, reiterating previous official denials.

Speaking before world and business leaders at an event at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday, the 54-year-old second son of Queen Elizabeth said that he wanted, for the record, to address the events of the last few weeks.

"I just wish to reiterate and to reaffirm the statements which have already been made on my behalf by Buckingham Palace," Andrew said. "My focus is on my work."

The palace has previously issued denials of the claims, which had appeared in documents filed in a US court

According to the allegations filed in a Florida court, a woman named only as Jane Doe #3 but widely identified as Virginia Roberts by the media said she was forced as a minor by Andrew's friend Jeffrey Epstein to have sex with several people, including the prince.

When she allegedly had sex with the prince she was 17, underaged according to Florida law, the documents said.

Andrew, fifth in line to the throne, is not a defendant in the Florida lawsuit, which mainly centres on the actions of his former friend Epstein.

The prince has been accused in recent years of leading a lavish lifestyle at taxpayers' expense.

In 2011 he gave up his role as Britain's roving trade ambassador after having been criticised for his friendship with Epstein, who had been jailed in 2008 for child sex offences.

A royal source said at the time Andrew accepted the position he had been unwise to associate with Epstein but had never been involved in impropriety.

British media reported on Thursday that Roberts had lodged new papers this week further detailing the allegations involving the prince, and that her lawyers had attempted to send a letter to Andrew asking for him to be questioned under oath. Buckingham Palace had reportedly refused to accept the letter.

"We have nothing to add to our earlier comment," a palace spokesman said of the reports.