Sarah Ferguson defends ex-husband Prince Andrew amid Epstein claims: 'He's the best man I know'

Sarah Ferguson has branded the accusations against her ex-husband Prince Andrew "nonsense", adding "he is the best man I know".

Ms Ferguson said the scandal over his friendship disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein has been "hard" for her and their two daughters.

In a rare interview with Vogue Arabia, she spoke candidly about the impact of the scandal on her family.

"The last six months have been hard on the girls and me," said Ms Ferguson, referring to Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

"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," she added, alluding to allegations made against the Prince by Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was one of Epstein's alleged sex trafficking victims.

Ms Giuffre, previously Roberts, alleges she was forced to sleep with the Duke at Ghislaine Maxwell's homes when she was a teen.

Prince Andrew has strongly denied all the claims against him.

The former Duchess of York also went on to compare herself to the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, saying: "I know what Meghan is going through."

Ms Ferguson was talking from her suite at the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh where she was speaker at the Misk Global Forum, a convention uniting "young leaders, creators and thinkers".

During the meet, Ms Ferguson plugged her jewellery and tea collections and her plans to sell them on Amazon.

"It must be hard for Meghan, and I can relate to her. I believe she is modern and fabulous," Ms Ferguson added.

"Any advice for her? 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. I abhor bullying and I feel desperately sorry for the pain they must be going through because I’ve been through it."

Ms Markle and husband Prince Harry have complained of being attacked by the British tabloid press and launched legal action against the Mail on Sunday after the newspaper published a handwritten letter the Duchess had sent to her estranged father.

The couple has recently won an accuracy complaint with the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), earning them an apology and correction from the Sun after the paper wrongly claimed they had banned their staff from using a car park because it was overlooking their new home.

There was also talk of Diana, the Princess of Wales, who was Ms Ferguson's sister-in-law.

Responding to a question about what role she played in the British monarchy, Ms Ferguson said: "I brought modern etiquette and fun, with Diana, Princess of Wales. Me and Diana had the best time. We really did, no question. I loved her with all my heart."