The Duke of York has described his "reluctant" decision not to send his daughter Princess Beatrice to an exclusive Swiss school following a sex scandal.

He called the decision not to send 11-year-old Beatrice to Aiglon College "a temporary change of plan", in a rare interview on BBC 1's Breakfast with Frost.

The Duke has praised the media for respecting his daughters' privacy

Beatrice was "very happy" to be attending St George's School in Ascot, Berks, in September instead, he said.

Aiglon's former headmaster Richard McDonald was arrested earlier this year over child sex allegations, which emerged during his divorce from his wife Michelle.

In January, three girls were the victims of a sex attacker in a dormitory at the school.

Beatrice's 10-year-old sister Princess Eugenie was also due to attend the school, in the Alpine village of Villars, in September 2001.

"Sarah and I want to send our children to an established and safe school, in the sense that we want them to have an environment in which they can flourish," said the Duke.

"Until the situation is resolved, and I have no doubt it will be, we have had to make this reluctant decision."

The Duke added that he and the Duchess were in agreement over the issue, saying: "There is no divide on this one."

He also praised the media for not invading the privacy of his daughters.

Princess Beatrice will go to St George's School in Ascot in September

He said: "They have been great. I have no complaints at all."

And he paid tribute to his grandmother the Queen Mother as she approaches her 100th birthday.

Attributing her longevity down to good genes, he added: "She's a remarkable lady."

Royal favour

The Royal Family is more popular with British people than at any time over the past decade, according to a poll published on Sunday, with 75% believing Buckingham Palace should remain the family's official residence.

Reacting to the findings, the Duke of York said: "That's very kind of them. It's extremely good news."

Mo Mowlam, who suggested that the Royals should move out of Buckingham Palace, did not fare so well.

Only 49% are satisfied with the way she does her job as Minister for the Cabinet Office compared to 60% before she voiced her views, in the MORI poll of 1,004 adults commissioned by the Mail on Sunday.