Duchess slams Beatrice critics

The Duchess of York has hit back at "rude" critics of her teenage daughter Princess Beatrice.

Some commentators made cutting remarks about 19-year-old Beatrice's curvy figure after she was pictured wearing a bikini on a Caribbean holiday last month.

Her mother Sarah Ferguson insisted the Princess was a "healthy size 10" and pleaded for the media to focus on her academic success and charity work.

The Duchess, who has battled with her own weight, self-deprecatingly referred to herself as "fat frumpy Fergie".

She said: "Beatrice is a healthy size 10, she's a fabulous girl, she has a completely good heart."

"Let's focus on that. She also supports me with my charity work. Could we not focus on the fact that she's a healthy size 10?"

Beatrice is currently on a gap year before starting a degree at Goldsmiths College in London in the autumn.

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