THE Duchess of York stayed out of sight yesterday as her ex-husband’s sex abuse case was heard – but his daughters carried on with their ski holiday.
Eugenie and Beatrice were spotted out and about in the swish Swiss ski resort of Verbier with their respective husbands Jack Brooksbank and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
When asked about her mother Beatrice told The Celeb Report: “She won’t be coming out today.”
Mum of one Beatrice added: ”Thank you for being so polite and respectful and not taking pictures of the children.
“It’s so hard these days with social media.”
Insiders said the Duchess, 62, was in constant contact with Andrew, as he followed proceedings in New York remotely from his home at Royal Lodge, Windsor.
The group flew out from Heathrow to Geneva on Boxing Day and were spotted on the commercial flight by several other holidaymakers heading for a festive break on the slopes.
A Mercedes people carrier whisked them from the airport to the chalet in Verbier last Wednesday.
Lights were seen on late into the evening as news broke of the Maxwell verdict.
Despite divorcing in 1996 the couple have stayed on good terms and only a fortnight ago Fergie told of her bond with Andrew during an Italian TV interview in which she even hinted they could get back together.
The Duchess confessed she still loves him and “will stand by his side” even in the face of allegations he sexually abused Virginia Giuffre, an alleged victim of Jeffrey Epstein, when she was under 18.
Prince Andrew strongly denies all allegations of misconduct made against him.
Sarah, who described marrying Andrew in July 1986 as a “fairytale”, was asked by interviewer Bruno Vespa why it had ended.
She replied: “Who said it’s finished? You know Bruno, the love we have for each other is very different from others, we share a very real respect for each other and real love for each other.
“It’s our fairytale and we honour each other. This is what we practice and we make compromises.”
When asked about his involvement in the Epstein case Sarah replied: “You know Bruno, I will stand by his side. I support him 100 percent.
“He is an extraordinary person, kind, gentle, fantastic father and parent and a great grandfather.”
She added: “You have to stand by what you believe is right.”
The Swiss chalet – called Helora – was the subject of controversy after it emerged Andrew and Sarah had settled a claim alleging they had failed to make a final payment of £6.6 million in 2020 to former owner Isabelle de Rouvre.
Two months ago it was reported the seven bedroom property was up for sale but interest has been limited due to the pandemic.
