Prince Andrew comments on underage sex allegations

54-year-old second son of Queen Elizabeth reiterates previous official denials

Prince Andrew is attending the 45th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Photograph: Jean-Christophe Bott/AP
Prince Andrew is attending the 45th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Photograph: Jean-Christophe Bott/AP

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

Speaking before world and business leaders at an event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the 54-year-old second son of Queen Elizabeth said he wanted 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,” he said. “My focus is on my work.”

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

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According to the allegations filed in a Florida court, a woman identified only as Jane Doe #3, but named as Virginia Roberts by some British 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 aged 17, underaged according to Florida law, the documents said.