Sarah Ferguson has posted an extraordinary Instagram post in which she defended her ex-husband Prince Andrew, ‘this giant of a principled man’ amid allegations over his close friendship with billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The Duchess of York shared the bizarre and emotional tribute ahead of Andrew’s interview tonight, praising him as a ‘true and real gentleman’ who ‘dares to put his shoulder to the wind and stands firm with his sense of honour and truth’.
Andrew spoke with Emily Maitlis for the programme ‘Prince Andrew & the Epstein Scandal’, which is to air on BBC2 at 9pm on Saturday, where the duke addresses his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein – and claims he had sex with Virginia Roberts.
Sarah Ferguson, 60, posted a series of photos of Andrew on Instagram with a long and heartfelt caption which read: ‘It is so rare to meet people that are able to speak from their hearts with honesty and pure real truth, that remain steadfast and strong to their beliefs.
‘Andrew is a true and real gentleman and is stoically steadfast to not only his duty but also his kindness and goodness of always seeing the best in people.
‘I am deeply supportive and proud of this giant of a principled man, that dares to put his shoulder to the wind and stands firm with his sense of honour and truth.
Sarah Ferguson posted an extraordinary tribute to her husband amid allegations over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein
The Duchess of York is visiting Venice today after it was submerged by floods as storms and winds brought misery to the city
Prince Andrew has maintained that he never ‘witnessed or suspected any improper behaviour by Epstein’ and strenuously denied any allegations of wrongdoing
‘For so many years he has gone about his duties for Great Britain and The Monarch. It is time for Andrew to stand firm now, and that he has, and I am with him every step of the way and that is my honour.
‘We have always walked tall and strong, he for me and me for him. We are the best examples of joint parenting, with both our girls and I go back to my three C’s… Communicate, compromise, compassion.’
Last month the Duchess of York spoke out on her ex-husband’s ties to the disgraced billionaire Jeffrey Epstein for the first time, insisting she will support Prince Andrew amid the engulfing scandal surrounding the royal’s friendship with the convicted paedophile.
The duchess, who has remained close to Andrew since their split in 1996 and is the mother of his two daughters, talked up the importance of ‘familyhood’ when asked if she was standing by the prince.
She today joined model and race car driver Jodie Kidd in flooded areas of Venice – submerged by floods for the second time in a week as storms and winds brought fresh misery to a city facing £1 billion euros’ worth of damage.
Sarah Ferguson tweeted out a series of pictures of the duke, defending him ahead of the bombshell interview
The Duke of York has been interviewed by Newsnight’s Emily Maitlis at Buckingham Palace and will be broadcast on BBC 2 at 9pm on Saturday
Sarah Ferguson married Prince Andrew in 1986 and have remained close since their divorce in 1996
Prince Andrew has maintained that he never ‘witnessed or suspected any improper behaviour by Epstein’ and strenuously denied any allegations of wrongdoing.
Fergie herself has a history with Epstein, having accepted £15,000 from the American businessman to help pay off a personal debt.
Epstein was arrested on July 6 by FBI agents after he landed at Teterboro airport in New Jersey following a flight from Paris Le Bourget airport in his private jet.
U.S. prosecutors had alleged that Epstein ‘sexually exploited and abused dozens of minor girls’ from 2002 to 2005 at his properties in New York and Florida.
Virginia Roberts photographed with Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell in early 2001. Maxwell has been accused of being Epstein’s pimp
Last month the Duchess of York spoke out on her ex-husband’s ties to the disgraced billionaire Jeffrey Epstein for the first time, insisting she will support Prince Andrew amid the engulfing scandal (Andrew and Sarah Ferguson pictured in 2010)
Epstein – who faced 45 years in prison – had entered a ‘not guilty’ plea when he appeared before judges on July 8.
He killed himself in the Manhattan jail on August 10 while faces sex trafficking charges.
Earlier this year the Duke admitted it was a ‘mistake’ to meet Epstein in New York in 2011 after the billionaire’s release from prison for child sex offences.
The full interview will be shown on BBC Two at 9pm on Saturday in a Newsnight special: Prince Andrew & The Epstein Scandal.