Diageo to sponsor Prince Andrew party

Drinks firm Diageo is sponsoring a gathering hosted by Prince Andrew in Davos, Switzerland this week, where the royal is expected to comment on the child sex allegations made against him.

Prince Andrew’s gathering in Davos will be sponsored by Diageo and KPMG (Photo: WIki)

The Prince will have an audience of around 300 politicians and dignitaries at his reception for the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday.

Paid for by Diageo – the world’s biggest drinks company – and professional services company KPMG, Prince Andrew will publicly comment for the first time on the child sex allegations being made against him, according to The Times.

Formerly a UK business ambassador, Prince Andrew has contacts at the top level in many of the country’s largest companies, and this sponsorship is being viewed as a show of support despite the claims.

He has been accused of having sex with then 17-year-old self-described “sex slave” Virginia Roberts on three occasions, with Roberts supposedly under orders from the Prince’s friend, convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

It was the Prince’s continued friendship with Epstein, even after the New York billionaire’s year in prison, that led to calls for him to stand down from his role promoting UK business.

The child sex allegations surfaced last month at an unrelated trial in Florida that featured evidence from Roberts, who has now published a diary online that goes into more detailed descriptions of what she claims took place between her and the Prince.

Prince Andrew is also expected to invite TV cameras to the reception according to The Mail on Sunday – an unprecedented move in what is usually a secretive gathering in Davos.

His reception is one of the most understated of the offerings at the event, with previous guests recalling being served “a cheap glass of warm white wine and a cardboard canapé”, according to The Times.

The World Economic Forum is an annual gathering of government ministers, diplomats, business figures, charities and celebrities from across the globe.

Purportedly an event to encourage dialogue and collaboration across industries and borders, its closed nature is often criticised, and is a firm-favourite of conspiracy theorists.