Andrew is a good and kind man, says Duchess of York
Prince defended by ex-wife on first day of Royal Ascot, which Queen was forced to watch at home on the TV
‘Honestly, I take my hat off to them. Beatrice and Eugenie and I are called “the tripod” and we stay firm to speaking our truth’
SARAH, Duchess of York stuck by Prince Andrew to keep her family united in honour of the Queen’s own “consistency, forgiveness and kindness”, she has suggested, insisting that her former husband is a “good and kind man”.
The Duchess, who is divorced from the Duke but lives with him in Royal Lodge at Windsor Great Park when she is in the UK, said she was determined to keep a happy family unit for their two daughters and their grandchildren.
Saying she “stands very firmly” behind her belief that the Duke is a “very good” man, she admitted she “takes her hat off ” to how Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have coped with the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, which led their father to step back from royal duty and pay a multimillion-pound settlement of a sexual abuse civil law suit in the United States.
Speaking on Times Radio during an interview about her new career writing romance novels, the Duchess was asked for her thoughts on the Queen in her Platinum Jubilee year.
“I absolutely adore her more than any single person I’ve ever met,” she said. “She’s been more of a mother to me than my own mother... how extraordinary she’s been as a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and how lucky am I to be able to answer that question from a personal point of view.
“I think that’s probably one of the main reasons that I’m so supportive of keeping the York family united.”
Asked whether she would marry the Duke if given the chance to live her life over, the Duchess said: “Oh yes. He’s a very good and kind man. He’s a good man. And it was an exceptional [wedding] day.”
On how they have successfully shared a house despite divorcing in 1996, she insisted it was not her true home. “I spend so much time out of the country doing my philanthropic work that when I do come back in I’m very lucky to stay here,” the Duchess said. “It’s a place where we are a united front with the girls, it’s their home and now my grandchildren come here.
“I will stand very firmly by [my belief that] Andrew is a very good and kind man, and that’s what I believe.”
Asked how their daughters had coped with the scandal, she admitted: “Honestly, I take my hat off to them. Beatrice, Eugenie and I are called ‘the tripod’ and we stay firm to speaking our truth.”
On Monday, the Duke was compelled to remain out of sight during the Garter Day procession after a “family decision” to limit his appearance to a behind-the- scenes lunch and investiture ceremony.
Yesterday, Princess Beatrice was among members of the family attending Royal Ascot, although she did not travel in the carriage procession.
The Queen was unable to attend the annual race meeting’s opening day yesterday but sent a written message thanking the racing community for the affection and respect it has offered her.
She has attended Ascot each year of her reign, except for during Covid lockdown, and there are hopes she may be able to make an appearance later in the week by car rather than carriage. She watched yesterday’s action on television from nearby Windsor Castle while the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall led the royal party in the traditional carriage procession.
The Prince and the Duchess, who wore an aquamarine coat dress by Anna Valentine and hat by Philip Treacy, were joined in the first carriage by Peter Phillips, the Queen’s eldest grandson.
They were followed by the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, with guests including Lord de Mauley, the Queen’s Master of Horse.
Princess Beatrice, with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, walked through the gates to the course with the other race-goers, telling photographers who sprang into action: “I’ll be here all day”.
The Queen has more than 10 horses entered over the five days of the event.