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Let 'kind' Prince Andrew get on with his life, says ex-wife Sarah Ferguson

Her comments come as an exclusive Savanta poll for Yahoo News UK revealed that 68% of the British public believe Prince Andrew can never return to public life

Prince Andrew: Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York is a guest on The View on Wednesday, March 3, 2023. The View airs Monday-Friday, 11am-12 noon, ET on ABC.  (Photo by Lou Rocco/ABC via Getty Images) SARAH FERGUSON
Sarah Ferguson has spoken out in favour of her 'kind' ex-husband Prince Andrew being left alone. (Getty)

Sarah Ferguson has said Prince Andrew should be allowed to get on with his life following sexual assault allegations made against him, and described him as "a kind, good man".

In an interview with Good Morning Britain on Thursday, Ferguson – who is affectionately known as Fergie – spoke out on behalf of Andrew, with whom she shares two daughters and two grandchildren.

"With Prince Andrew, he is such a good man, he is a kind good man and I think the spotlight needs to come off him and let him get on with his life, to rebuild."

"He's a very good grandfather," she added.

Her comments follow an exclusive Savanta poll for Yahoo News UK that revealed 68% of the British public believe Prince Andrew can never return to public life following the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

Andrew is the most unpopular royal with the British public, too.

Read more: Exclusive: Most Brits believe Prince Andrew can never return to public life, poll shows

In 2019, the Duke of York was accused of sexual assault by Virginia Giuffre – who claimed she had been trafficked by the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. A lawsuit brought against Andrew by Giuffre claimed he sexually abused her in 2001, when she was a teenager.

Prince Andrew has consistently strongly denied all claims made by Giuffre, and the pair reached a multi-million pound out-of-court settlement in February 2022.

The allegations initially surfaced in 2019 and prompted a hugely damaging Newsnight interview for Andrew that covered his relationship with Epstein. After a major public backlash, he stepped down as a working member of the Royal Family and had a series of titles and royal patronages stripped from him.

Watch: Sarah Ferguson promised Queen Elizabeth she would "be there" for Prince Andrew

He has hit headlines more recently amid reports Charles wanted him to move into Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's UK home of Frogmore Cottage.

Andrew, it was reported, was being offered the home as a step down from the £30m mansion, Royal Lodge, where he has lived with his ex-wife on and off for many years.

The duke has remained away from public duties, although Yahoo News UK's royal executive editor Omid Scobie wrote in February that he was mulling a comeback.

But with King Charles and Prince William keen to avoid further embarrassment to the family following a tumultuous recent few years, it appears he would have little backing for such an attempt to re-enter public life.

Fergie and Andrew remain on amicable terms after divorcing more than 25 years ago (the couple parted ways in 1996). Following news the pair might be asked to vacate Royal Lodge, Fergie even suggested she would support the pair financially.

Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Award Gala in New York City, U.S., December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
Prince Harry and Meghan are reportedly losing their UK home to make way for Prince Andrew (Reuters)

Speaking to Hello in March, Fergie suggested reports of Prince Andrew vacating Royal Lodge and having his annual allowance slashed by King Charles was “really a matter for the Duke and His Majesty”, before stressing that he “doesn’t actually take taxpayers’ money” having stepped back from his role as a working royal.

She added that she was fortunately in a “position” to “support [Andrew] and the rest of the family through my work”.