Prince Andrew spoke publicly for the first time Thursday about the sexual misconduct claims at the World Economic Forum reception in Davos, Switzerland.

"Firstly I think I must, and want, for the record, to refer to events that have taken place in the last few weeks," the 54-year-old prince said according to BBC. "I just wish to reiterate and to reaffirm the statements that have already been made on my behalf by Buckingham Palace. My focus is on my work, and this evening's reception allows me to tell you about just a couple of the initiatives that I have founded and am passionate about."

Buckingham Palace has denied Virginia Roberts' claims against Prince Andrew, claiming they are "categorically untrue" and lack "any foundation." Roberts' lawyers have filed new documents to a court in Florida that contain a statement about the sexual allegations in her own words for the first time. The lawyers sent Prince Andrew a letter asking him to respond to the allegations under oath; they claim it was returned having been refused by the recipient.

Roberts, a 30-year-old mother of three who is named in the case as Jane Doe #3, alleges she was forced by Prince Andrew's billionaire friend Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted pedophile, to have sex with the prince when she was 17.

Sarah Ferguson, the prince's former wife, appeared Jan. 13 on NBC's "Today Show" to discuss weight loss products and denied Roberts' claims.

"The great news is that Andrew, and I and the girls are the best family unit there ever is, and I know him extremely, extremely well," she said. "And Buckingham Palace put out a denial two weeks ago, or a week ago, and we stand by that denial. Secondly and more importantly I won't stand by -- because I know what it feels like to have salacious lies made up about you -- and not support him so publicly because they are just shockingly accusatory allegations which I don't think is right."

The allegation against Prince Andrew was made by Roberts in evidence submitted to a U.S. court as part of a civil case involving Epstein.

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