Prince Andrew publicly refutes underage sex claims

Prince Andrew has refuted the allegations made by a US woman that she was forced to have sex with him when she was 17, in his first public appearance since the claims were made.

The 54-year-old Duke of York, who was speaking at a World Economic Forum reception in Davos, Switzerland, said that he just wish to reiterate and to reaffirm the statements that have already been made on his behalf by Buckingham Palace that the claims against him are "categorically untrue" and lack "any foundation," the BBC reported.

The Prince added that his focus is on his work and that evening's reception allows him to tell about just a couple of the initiatives that he has founded and is passionate about.

BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt said that they have had two unprecedented statements from Buckingham Palace and now this, Prince Andrew on camera, which is a sign of how damaging these allegations are and the price he is paying for his past friendship with a convicted sex offender.

Hunt added that Prince Andrew is desperate to move on, but it may not be that easy.

Virginia Roberts, who is referred to in the case as Jane Doe #3, alleges she was forced by financier Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, to have sex with Prince Andrew when she was 17 and has recently given a statement about the allegations in her own words.

The allegations against Prince Andrew emerged in evidence submitted to a US court in a case involving Epstein, who spent time in jail in 2008-9 for a sex offence with a minor, but the prince is not facing any legal proceedings over the claims made in the US case.