Duke of York has gone through enormous pain, says loyal ex-wife Fergie
THE Duke of York’s former wife has described him as a “wonderful man” who has gone “through such enormous pain”.
Sarah, Duchess of York, expressed support for her ex-husband, who was forced to quit royal duties following his disastrous Newsnight interview about his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In an interview with Vogue Arabia, believed to have been carried out before Andrew stepped down from public life, Sarah said the claims surrounding him were “nonsense” and also compared herself to the Duchess of Sussex.
She described the royal newbie as
“fabulous”, adding: “I know what Meghan is going through.”
Of Andrew, who has strenuously denied claims from Virginia Giuffre that he slept with her when she was 17 after she was trafficked by Epstein, the duchess said: “When I talk about Prince Andrew, I talk about family because the last six months have been hard on the girls and me.
“To see such a wonderful man go through such enormous pain... he is the best man I know.
“It’s just incredible what he has done for Britain and it’s all nonsense.”
The Duke of York stepped back from public duties for the
“foreseeable future”, in an unprecedented move for a royal in modern times.
The bombshell statement came after mounting pressure in the wake of his interview about his friendship with Epstein.
Firms including telecoms giant BT and Barclays bank were among a growing number of multi-millionpound businesses, universities and charities which distanced themselves from Andrew amid the fall-out from the Newsnight programme.
Andrew was criticised for showing a lack of empathy towards Epstein’s victims and a lack of remorse over his friendship with the disgraced financier, who took his own life while in prison earlier this year.
Ms Giuffre claimed she was trafficked by Epstein. She also claimed she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew three times, including twice in Florida when she was below the state’s age of consent.
Ms Giuffre said the same alleged sexual liaison began with the duke sweating heavily as they danced at London nightclub Tramp.
But the duke said he had a medical condition at the time which meant he did not sweat.
The duchess, who faced harsh criticism from the press after marrying into the royals and then divorcing Andrew, said she could sympathise with the Duchess of Sussex’s experience.
Us-born former actress Meghan has revealed how she had tried to cope with the pressures of her new life by putting on a “stiff upper lip”, but was not prepared for the intensity of tabloid interest.
Sarah said: “It must be hard for Meghan and I can relate to her.
“I believe she is modern and fabulous... I tend not to give advice because it is taken out of context but I have been in Meghan’s shoes and I still am. There’s always a twist of negativity and it just gets so sad and tiring, it’s hard and mean.”