Prince Andrew expected to address sex allegations

The Duke of York, who is due to make his first public appearance since a US woman alleged she was forced to have sex with him when she was 17, is expected to use his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to address the claims.

Buckingham Palace, which has repeatedly denied the claims, saying they were "categorically untrue," has reportedly invited a cameraman, photogrpaher and reporter to record Prince Andrew's first public comments about the saga, Stuff.co.nz reported.

The 30-year-old Florida woman Virginia Roberts alleged that between 1999 and 2002 she was sexually abused by investment banker Jeffrey Epstein who loaned her out to his wealthy and powerful friends, including the Duke.

Roberts' lawyers have formally requested the 54-year-old Prince to respond to her accusations under oath.

A letter, addressed to Andrew at Buckingham Palace, was also filed with a Florida court recently, which asked the Duke to take part in a two-hour interview and had a photograph of Andrew with his arm around Roberts.