Buckingham Palace denies 'underage sex slave' allegations after Prince Andrew named in US court documents

 
Denial: Prince Andrew was reportedly named in US court documents (Picture: AFP)
Standard Reporter2 January 2015
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Buckingham Palace has dismissed "categorically untrue" claims Prince Andrew has committed any impropriety after he was reportedly named in US court documents related to a convicted paedophile.

A spokesman denied the claims after a woman alleged in papers filed in Florida that she was forced to have sex with Andrew when she was 17, which is under the age of consent in the state, according to the Guardian.

The claim is said to have been made as part of a lawsuit in connection with American billionaire and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew was photographed with Epstein in New York two years after the American's release from prison in 2009, and their friendship was a source of controversy.

The woman making the allegations claims that between 1999 and 2002 she "was forced to have sexual relations with this prince when she was a minor" in London, New York and on a private Caribbean island owned by Epstein.

The accusation is reportedly contained in a motion filed in a Florida court this week which is part of a lawsuit over how federal prosecutors handled the case of Epstein, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2008 for soliciting paid sex with a minor.

The Prince has not had an opportunity to respond to the claims in the court filing.

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: "This relates to long-standing and ongoing civil proceedings in the United States, to which the Duke of York is not a party.

"As such we would not comment on the detail. However, for the avoidance of doubt, any suggestion of impropriety with under age minors is categorically untrue".

The Duke has been dogged since 2011 by accusations of a lack of judgment about his links with Epstein.

In June 2011, it was announced that he was stepping down from his role as the UK's roving business ambassador.

Andrew gave up the post following the intense scrutiny he faced over his relationships with Epstein and other controversial figures.

The Guardian reported that the woman making the claims against Andrew was allegedly converted into a "sex slave" by Epstein.

Epstein is accused of repeatedly abusing her on his private jet and luxury homes in New York, New Mexico, Florida and the US Virgin Islands.

The court document alleges: "Epstein also sexually trafficked the then-minor Jane Doe (a name used in US legal proceedings for people with anonymity), making her available for sex to politically connected and financially powerful people.

"Epstein's purposes in 'lending' Jane Doe (along with other young girls) to such powerful people were to ingratiate himself with them for business, personal, political, and financial gain, as well as to obtain potential blackmail information."

It goes on: "For instance, one such powerful individual Epstein forced Jane Doe to have sexual relations with was a member of the British royal family, Prince Andrew (aka Duke of York)."

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