Prince Andrew, the Queen’s middle son, is denying allegations contained in a lawsuit filed in the United States that he had sex with an underage girl more than 10 years ago.
A woman has named the Duke of York in a civil lawsuit filed in Florida against the U.S. government over its handling of the case against businessman Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted of soliciting sex from underage girls in 2008.
Epstein spent just over a year in jail following his conviction.
The woman, who is identified in the documents only as Jane Doe #3, alleges that Epstein began abusing her in 1999 when she was 15 years old, and eventually turned her into his “sex slave.”
The woman also alleges that Epstein forced her to have sex with Prince Andrew at various locations around the world, including London, New York, and on a private island in the Caribbean.
The incidents are alleged to have occurred between 1999 and 2002.
‘Categorically untrue’
Meryl Walter, a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace, denied the allegations in a statement issued to the press Friday.
"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,” Walter said.
“However, for the avoidance of doubt, any suggestion of impropriety with underage minors is categorically untrue.”
The civil suit against the U.S. government was launched in 2008 by two women who say the plea deal with the businessman violated their rights by ensuring he would not face prosecution over the abuse they allegedly suffered.
Jane Doe #3 and a fourth woman, identified as Jane Doe #4, are hoping to join the lawsuit.
