The Duchess of York has said she 'will stand very firmly by Andrew' following her ex-husband's out-of-court settlement over sexual assault claims. Sarah, now 62, told Times Radio he is a “good and kind man”.
She was on Times Radio after Andrew’s recent out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre over sexual assault claims. Speaking to Mariella Frostrup on Tuesday (June 14), the duchess was asked if she would still marry the prince if she could go back in time, reports PA.
She replied: “Oh, yes. He’s a very good and kind man. He’s a good man.” Referring their wedding day, she added: “And it was an exceptional day, July 23 1986. And it was just extraordinary."
The couple was married in 1986, separated in 1992, and divorced in 1996. They have two daughters, Eugenie and Beatrice. Sarah went on: “I think my life is an amazing life. I think I’ve been very lucky. And I am now just beginning my life again. And I think it’s pretty cool to be able to say that.”
She later told the programme: “And, you know, I will stand very firmly by Andrew… a very good and kind man and that’s what I believe. We are divorced. I think it’s very important, Mariella, that people realise that I don’t spend long here in England, because I don’t wish to. I’d much prefer being out.
“I’ve built 156 schools in Africa and Poland. And, you know, and I just want to keep going doing my philanthropy work.”
The disgraced duke was on Monday forced 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. The Prince of Wales and his son the Duke of Cambridge are understood to have lobbied the Queen about Andrew’s participation in Garter Day, which featured a church service, an investiture for new members of the order and a lunch.
Andrew stepped down from public life after the furore over his friendship with paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, and paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case to a woman he claimed never to have met. The duke was cast out of the working monarchy and no longer uses his HRH style after Ms Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein, accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17.
The duke denied the claims.
