The Duchess of York has defended her undercover trip to Turkey insisting it did not undermine the Queen or drag the Royal Family

The Duchess of York has defended her undercover trip to Turkey insisting it did not undermine the Queen or drag the Royal Family in the row.

By Chris Irvine
Last Updated: 9:51PM GMT 06 Nov 2008
; http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1488655367/bctid1902533972 http://www.brightcove.com/channel.jsp?channel=1139053637

The Duchess took her eldest daughter Princess Beatrice, 20, to Romania, while 18-year-old Princess Eugenie went with her mother to Turkey during an investigation into state-run orphanages, for ITV1's Tonight programme.
Turkish officials have since accused the Duchess of trying to smear the country's image deliberately while they are bidding for European Union membership.
Although she defended her participation, she apologised for any embarrassment the expose may have caused Turkey.
The documentary, to be aired on Thursday evening, followed the Duchess as she visited state orphanages in Turkey and Romania.
In Romanian institution Marin Pazon, the Duchess and Beatrice found children tethered; a deaf and blind boy eating his own nappy and an emaciated autistic girl tied to a bed.
In Saray, the Duchess found a boy who is never allowed to go outside but lies in the corridor because he loves to feel the sunlight on his face.
Another boy is kept in a 5ft high wooden box, because, it is claimed, he is hyperactive.
Following a press screening of the programme, she said: "I am not a political person. I am apolitical and multi-faith.
"I stand by my words... that I'm sorry if it cause them any embarrassment."
"I also stand by our prime minister, who said that if they fall into the right criteria we welcome Turkey to ascend into the EU. Fantastic - that means they have to fall in with the human rights criteria for children."
The Duchess admitted that she felt uncomfortable using a disguise, saying: "It probably wasn't very fair that I was covering the red hair.
"Beatrice and Eugenie of the royal family were not there... I did feel a little uncomfortable when I went in with my wig on because I'm not that kind of person.
"However, I knew that they wouldn't let me in if I... just went as me and it is very important that I do, for the rights of these children, cry about it, because somebody's got to."
The Foreign Office distanced itself from the views expressed in the Duchess's broadcast and confirmed its commitment to Turkish accession to the EU.
A spokesman said the visit to Turkey was in a "private capacity".

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/3387625/Duchess-of-York-defends-undercover-Turkey-trip.htm