Sarah, Duchess of York
Encyclopedia
Sarah, Duchess of York (Sarah Margaret; née Ferguson; born 15 October 1959) is a British charity patron
, spokesperson, writer, film producer, television personality and former member of the British Royal Family
. She is the former wife of Prince Andrew, Duke of York
, whom she married from 1986 to 1996. She is often popularly referred to as "Fergie", a common nickname for people named Ferguson
.
The Duchess is the younger daughter of Major Ronald Ferguson
and Susan Barrantes
(née Wright), both now deceased. Her children, Princess Beatrice of York
and Princess Eugenie of York
, are respectively fifth and sixth in the line of succession
to the thrones of 16 independent Commonwealth realm
states.
and his first wife, Susan Mary Wright
. Sarah's older sister is Jane Ferguson Luedecke, a public relations executive now living and working in Australia. After Sarah's parents divorced in 1972, her mother remarried polo player Hector Barrantes and moved to Trenque Lauquen
in the Argentine pampas. Sarah stayed at the 480 acres (1.9 km²) Dummer Down Farm at Dummer, Hampshire, her father's home since age 8. Major Ferguson remarried and had three more children.
Sarah attended a senior boarding school
that specialised in ballet. After finishing a course at Queen's Secretarial College at the age of eighteen, Sarah went to work in a public relations firm in London. Later she worked for an art gallery, and then a publishing company. She says she lived simply.
with a bit of old money." She is descended from both the Stuart and Tudor houses
. On her father's side, Sarah is a descendant of King Charles II of England
via two of his illegitimate sons, Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond
, and James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth
. She has aristocratic ancestry, being the second great-granddaughter of the 6th Duke of Buccleuch, a great-granddaughter of the 8th Viscount Powerscourt
and a direct descendant of Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire
. Her paternal grandmother was Lady Marian Louisa Montagu Douglas Scott
, a first cousin of Lady Alice Christabel Montagu Douglas Scott
, who married Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester
, an uncle of Queen Elizabeth II.
, (the second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
and fourth in line to the throne) and Sarah Ferguson announced their engagement, having met at a party at Windsor Castle
the previous year.
After securing the Queen's permission (which is required by a British law, the Royal Marriages Act 1772
, for children of the monarch) Andrew and Sarah were married in Westminster Abbey
on 23 July 1986. The Queen bestowed the title Duke of York
upon Prince Andrew, and as his new wife Sarah automatically assumed her husband's royal and ducal status and became Her Royal Highness The Duchess of York. With her marriage, she attained the rank of Princess of the United Kingdom
, which was lost upon her divorce.
The couple became parents on 8 August 1988 with the birth of daughter, Beatrice. Their second child, another daughter, Eugenie, was born on 23 March 1990.
During her marriage, the tabloid press ridiculed the Duchess after her weight climbed to 15 stones (95.2543977 kg) (220 lbs) labelling her unflatteringly as the "Duchess of Pork".
By 1991, the marriage was in trouble, and the couple had drifted apart. While her husband was away on naval or royal duties, the Duchess was frequently seen in the company of other men, notably Texan multimillionaire Steve Wyatt. Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York finally announced their separation
on 19 March 1992.
In August 1992, surreptitiously-taken photographs of the Duchess sunbathing topless with John Bryan, an American financial manager, were published in the British tabloid Daily Mirror. The Duchess endured widespread public ridicule contributing to her further estrangement from the British Royal Family
. After four years of official separation, the Duke and Duchess announced the mutual decision to divorce in 1996.
Post-divorce, Sarah uses the style of other divorced peeresses, using her first name (Sarah) and her former title as surname; her current name, thus, is Sarah, Duchess of York, eliminating the preface "The" before "Duchess of York." Should she marry again, Sarah would lose the use of the style and surname of "Duchess of York."
International, a relationship that lasted several years. Sarah's other commercial interests have included endorsement and product development for Wedgwood
china and Avon
. She is also a public speaker represented by agencies such as The National Speakers Bureau
. Sarah's speeches cover subjects ranging from empowerment and personal growth to health advocacy and international charity.
Sarah was scheduled to meet with her Chances for Children charity at the World Trade Center
on 11 September 2001, but her limousine arrived at the area late as charity staffers were waiting for Sarah at the lobby. American Airlines Flight 11
hit the North Tower seconds before Sarah and her entourage arrived, and immediately they left along with Chances for Children staffers.
Until 2004, the Duke of York and his former wife shared the family’s home, Sunninghill Park
in Berkshire. That same year, the Duke moved to the refurbished Royal Lodge
, previously the home of his grandmother
, who resided there until her death in 2002. In 2007, the Duchess rented Dolphin House, and became next door neighbours with her ex-husband. In 2008, a fire broke out at Dolphin House causing Sarah to vacate the premises and move into Royal Lodge with her ex-husband, the Duke of York.
According to some sources, Duchess had split her divorce settlement with her mother and had also contributed financially to the upkeep of the Barrantes ranch in Argentina.
In 2009, Sarah participated in a much-criticized ITV "experiment" in which Sarah joined families in a council estate (public housing) to provide advice to them on proper living. She stayed for ten days in Northern Moor
, a suburb area in Wythenshawe
, Manchester, England, and the result was The Duchess on the Estate, transmitted on ITV1 on 18 August 2009. It was considered a "hatchet job". A previous, similar television venture, "The Duchess In Hull" in which Sarah advised lower-income families on proper diet and behaviour received similar criticism.
Subsequent to the "cash for access" scandal (see next section,) Sarah was not among the 1,900 people who received an invitation to the 2011 wedding
of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
500,000 by Mazher Mahmood
, an undercover reporter posing as an Indian businessman. On the video made as a documentary source for the story, which is publicly available, Sarah is heard to say that "£500,000 when you can, to me, open doors". She is seen taking away a briefcase containing US$40,000 in cash. Exposure surrounding the incident increased Sarah's public profile and notoriety. For instance, Sterling Publishers
substantially increased the print run of Ashley Learns About Strangers, the Duchess's latest book for children; however, the notoriety did not translate into additional book sales. Sarah excused her behaviour in an interview with Oprah Winfrey
by saying that that she had been drinking prior to soliciting the cash, and was "in the gutter at that moment".
, a leading London firm of solicitors, for a reported £200,000 in unpaid legal fees. It was reported in August 2010 that the Duchess might declare voluntary bankruptcy with debts of £5 million, though other sources have suggested she owes about £2 million.
In March 2011 it was reported that Jeffrey Epstein
had helped the Duchess avoid bankruptcy by paying off some of her debts. The payments were reportedly made after intervention from the Duke of York.
In the Summer of 2011, "Finding Sarah" aired on the OWN network. Sarah recorded this 8 part series for the network to record her journey of finding herself again. Several times throughout the show, a re-marriage to Prince Andrew was not ruled out in her future plans.
Feature Animation released a special DVD The Cat That Looked at a King, with Sarah's voice in the role of the Queen; the story is derived from the Mary Poppins
books by P. L. Travers
. Sarah had a producing role (credited as "Sarah Ferguson") in the 2009 Jean-Marc Vallée
film The Young Victoria
, starring Emily Blunt
and featured a background player role for Sarah's daughter Princess Beatrice.
Sarah's full title during her marriage was: Her Royal Highness The Princess Andrew Albert Christian Edward, Duchess of York, Countess of Inverness, Baroness Killyleagh.
Immediately after her divorce she retained the style Her Royal Highness; however on 21 August 1996 letters patent
were issued which removed the title from divorced ex-wives of princes. She remained titled Sarah, Duchess of York in keeping with the standard form of address for former wives of peers. After divorce she was no longer a British princess
but remained a duchess.
Patrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...
, spokesperson, writer, film producer, television personality and former member of the British Royal Family
British Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
. She is the former wife of Prince Andrew, Duke of York
Prince Andrew, Duke of York
Prince Andrew, Duke of York KG GCVO , is the second son, and third child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
, whom she married from 1986 to 1996. She is often popularly referred to as "Fergie", a common nickname for people named Ferguson
Ferguson (name)
Ferguson is a surname and given name. The surname is a patronymic form of the personal name Fergus. The name Fergus is derived from the Gaelic elements fear and gus .-Australia:...
.
The Duchess is the younger daughter of Major Ronald Ferguson
Ronald Ferguson
Major Ronald Ivor Ferguson was the father of Sarah, Duchess of York, former wife to The Duke of York. He is the maternal grandfather of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie of York...
and Susan Barrantes
Susan Barrantes
Susan Barrantes was an English aristocrat related to the House of Stuart and the mother of Sarah, Duchess of York, and the maternal grandmother of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie of York.She was born Susan Mary Wright in Bramcote, Nottinghamshire, the daughter of FitzHerbert...
(née Wright), both now deceased. Her children, Princess Beatrice of York
Princess Beatrice of York
Princess Beatrice of York is the elder daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York...
and Princess Eugenie of York
Princess Eugenie of York
Princess Eugenie of York Eugenie Victoria Helena; born 23 March 1990) is the younger daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York...
, are respectively fifth and sixth in the line of succession
Line of succession to the British Throne
The line of succession to the British throne is the ordered sequence of those people eligible to succeed to the throne of the United Kingdom and the other 15 Commonwealth realms. By the terms of the Act of Settlement 1701, the succession is limited to the descendants of the Electress Sophia of...
to the thrones of 16 independent Commonwealth realm
Commonwealth Realm
A Commonwealth realm is a sovereign state within the Commonwealth of Nations that has Elizabeth II as its monarch and head of state. The sixteen current realms have a combined land area of 18.8 million km² , and a population of 134 million, of which all, except about two million, live in the six...
states.
Early life
Sarah Margaret Ferguson is the second daughter of Major Ronald FergusonRonald Ferguson
Major Ronald Ivor Ferguson was the father of Sarah, Duchess of York, former wife to The Duke of York. He is the maternal grandfather of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie of York...
and his first wife, Susan Mary Wright
Susan Barrantes
Susan Barrantes was an English aristocrat related to the House of Stuart and the mother of Sarah, Duchess of York, and the maternal grandmother of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie of York.She was born Susan Mary Wright in Bramcote, Nottinghamshire, the daughter of FitzHerbert...
. Sarah's older sister is Jane Ferguson Luedecke, a public relations executive now living and working in Australia. After Sarah's parents divorced in 1972, her mother remarried polo player Hector Barrantes and moved to Trenque Lauquen
Trenque Lauquen
Trenque Lauquen is a city in the west of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, from Buenos Aires City and from the border with the province of La Pampa, on the intersection of National Routes 5 and 33...
in the Argentine pampas. Sarah stayed at the 480 acres (1.9 km²) Dummer Down Farm at Dummer, Hampshire, her father's home since age 8. Major Ferguson remarried and had three more children.
Sarah attended a senior boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
that specialised in ballet. After finishing a course at Queen's Secretarial College at the age of eighteen, Sarah went to work in a public relations firm in London. Later she worked for an art gallery, and then a publishing company. She says she lived simply.
Ancestry
Sarah once described her family as "country gentryGentry
Gentry denotes "well-born and well-bred people" of high social class, especially in the past....
with a bit of old money." She is descended from both the Stuart and Tudor houses
Tudor dynasty
The Tudor dynasty or House of Tudor was a European royal house of Welsh origin that ruled the Kingdom of England and its realms, including the Lordship of Ireland, later the Kingdom of Ireland, from 1485 until 1603. Its first monarch was Henry Tudor, a descendant through his mother of a legitimised...
. On her father's side, Sarah is a descendant of King Charles II of England
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
via two of his illegitimate sons, Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond
Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond
Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond, 1st Duke of Lennox, 1st Duke of Aubigny was the illegitimate son of Charles II of England and his mistress Louise de Kérouaille, Duchess of Portsmouth....
, and James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth
James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth
James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, 1st Duke of Buccleuch, KG, PC , was an English nobleman. Originally called James Crofts or James Fitzroy, he was born in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the eldest illegitimate son of Charles II and his mistress, Lucy Walter...
. She has aristocratic ancestry, being the second great-granddaughter of the 6th Duke of Buccleuch, a great-granddaughter of the 8th Viscount Powerscourt
Mervyn Wingfield, 8th Viscount Powerscourt
Mervyn Richard Wingfield, 8th Viscount Powerscourt KP, MVO was an Irish peer.He was born to Mervyn Wingfield, 7th Viscount Powerscourt, whom he succeeded as Viscount Powerscourt in 1904. He was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Wicklow on 15 February 1910 and created a Knight of the Order of St Patrick...
and a direct descendant of Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire
Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire
Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire , formerly Lady Georgiana Spencer, was the first wife of the 5th Duke of Devonshire, and mother of the 6th Duke of Devonshire. Her father, the 1st Earl Spencer, was a great-grandson of the 1st Duke of Marlborough. Her niece was Lady Caroline Lamb...
. Her paternal grandmother was Lady Marian Louisa Montagu Douglas Scott
Marian Louisa Montagu Douglas Scott
Marian Louisa Elmhirst, Lady Elmhirst was the first daughter born to Lord Herbert Montagu Douglas Scott and Marie Edwards...
, a first cousin of Lady Alice Christabel Montagu Douglas Scott
Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester
Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester was a member of the British Royal Family, the wife and then widow of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, the third son of George V and Queen Mary.The daughter of the 7th Duke of Buccleuch & Queensberry, Scotland’s largest landowner, her brothers Walter and...
, who married Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester
Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester
The Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester was a soldier and member of the British Royal Family, the third son of George V of the United Kingdom and Queen Mary....
, an uncle of Queen Elizabeth II.
Marriage to Prince Andrew
On 17 March 1986, Prince AndrewPrince Andrew, Duke of York
Prince Andrew, Duke of York KG GCVO , is the second son, and third child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
, (the second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Elizabeth II. He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch....
and fourth in line to the throne) and Sarah Ferguson announced their engagement, having met at a party at Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
the previous year.
After securing the Queen's permission (which is required by a British law, the Royal Marriages Act 1772
Royal Marriages Act 1772
The Royal Marriages Act 1772 is an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain which prescribes the conditions under which members of the British Royal Family may contract a valid marriage, in order to guard against marriages that could diminish the status of the Royal House...
, for children of the monarch) Andrew and Sarah were married in Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
on 23 July 1986. The Queen bestowed the title Duke of York
Duke of York
The Duke of York is a title of nobility in the British peerage. Since the 15th century, it has, when granted, usually been given to the second son of the British monarch. The title has been created a remarkable eleven times, eight as "Duke of York" and three as the double-barreled "Duke of York and...
upon Prince Andrew, and as his new wife Sarah automatically assumed her husband's royal and ducal status and became Her Royal Highness The Duchess of York. With her marriage, she attained the rank of Princess of the United Kingdom
British princess
This is a list of British princesses from the accession of King George I in 1714. This article deals with both princesses of the blood royal and women who become princesses upon marriage....
, which was lost upon her divorce.
The couple became parents on 8 August 1988 with the birth of daughter, Beatrice. Their second child, another daughter, Eugenie, was born on 23 March 1990.
During her marriage, the tabloid press ridiculed the Duchess after her weight climbed to 15 stones (95.2543977 kg) (220 lbs) labelling her unflatteringly as the "Duchess of Pork".
Legal separation
Legal separation is a legal process by which a married couple may formalize a de facto separation while remaining legally married. A legal separation is granted in the form of a court order, which can be in the form of a legally binding consent decree...
on 19 March 1992.
In August 1992, surreptitiously-taken photographs of the Duchess sunbathing topless with John Bryan, an American financial manager, were published in the British tabloid Daily Mirror. The Duchess endured widespread public ridicule contributing to her further estrangement from the British Royal Family
British Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
. After four years of official separation, the Duke and Duchess announced the mutual decision to divorce in 1996.
Post-divorce, Sarah uses the style of other divorced peeresses, using her first name (Sarah) and her former title as surname; her current name, thus, is Sarah, Duchess of York, eliminating the preface "The" before "Duchess of York." Should she marry again, Sarah would lose the use of the style and surname of "Duchess of York."
After the divorce
After her divorce, the British tabloids became critical of Sarah's notably open extravagance and lifestyle. Ms. Ferguson has asserted that she declined to press for a large divorce settlement, in order to maintain cordial relations with the British Royal Family; her actual settlement included £350,000 in cash provided by the Queen which had no restrictions on its use and £500,000 provided by the Queen for purchase of a home without restriction. In addition, Sarah was not compelled to sign confidentiality agreements as part of her marital dissolution, allowing her to profit by writing of her former life in the Royal family; this paved the way for her to receive £2.2 million from writing her (first) autobiography. Sarah became a U.S. spokesperson for Weight WatchersWeight Watchers
Weight Watchers is an international company that offers various dieting products and services to assist weight loss and maintenance. Founded in 1963 by Brooklyn homemaker Jean Nidetch, it operates in about 30 countries around the world, generally under names that are local translations of “Weight...
International, a relationship that lasted several years. Sarah's other commercial interests have included endorsement and product development for Wedgwood
Josiah Wedgwood
Josiah Wedgwood was an English potter, founder of the Wedgwood company, credited with the industrialization of the manufacture of pottery. A prominent abolitionist, Wedgwood is remembered for his "Am I Not A Man And A Brother?" anti-slavery medallion. He was a member of the Darwin–Wedgwood family...
china and Avon
Avon Products
Avon Products, Inc. is a US cosmetics, perfume and toy seller with markets in over 140 countries across the world and sales of $9.9 billion worldwide as of 2007.-Business Model:...
. She is also a public speaker represented by agencies such as The National Speakers Bureau
National Speakers Bureau
-Overview:The National Speakers Bureau is an Illinois-based speakers bureau. The firm, founded in 1972 by John Palmer, is currently led by Brian Palmer who assumed the presidency in 1996.-History:...
. Sarah's speeches cover subjects ranging from empowerment and personal growth to health advocacy and international charity.
Sarah was scheduled to meet with her Chances for Children charity at the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
on 11 September 2001, but her limousine arrived at the area late as charity staffers were waiting for Sarah at the lobby. American Airlines Flight 11
American Airlines Flight 11
American Airlines Flight 11 was American Airlines' daily scheduled morning transcontinental flight from Logan International Airport, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Los Angeles International Airport, in Los Angeles, California...
hit the North Tower seconds before Sarah and her entourage arrived, and immediately they left along with Chances for Children staffers.
Until 2004, the Duke of York and his former wife shared the family’s home, Sunninghill Park
Sunninghill Park
Sunninghill Park is a country house and estate of some , located north of Sunninghill, lying between Ascot and the southern boundary of Windsor Great Park in Berkshire, England. It was the official residence of the Duke of York from 1990 until 2004....
in Berkshire. That same year, the Duke moved to the refurbished Royal Lodge
Royal Lodge
The Royal Lodge is a house in the civil parish of Old Windsor, located in Windsor Great Park, half a mile north of Cumberland Lodge and south of Windsor Castle. It was the Windsor residence of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother from 1952 until her death there in 2002. Since 2004 it has been the...
, previously the home of his grandmother
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II...
, who resided there until her death in 2002. In 2007, the Duchess rented Dolphin House, and became next door neighbours with her ex-husband. In 2008, a fire broke out at Dolphin House causing Sarah to vacate the premises and move into Royal Lodge with her ex-husband, the Duke of York.
According to some sources, Duchess had split her divorce settlement with her mother and had also contributed financially to the upkeep of the Barrantes ranch in Argentina.
In 2009, Sarah participated in a much-criticized ITV "experiment" in which Sarah joined families in a council estate (public housing) to provide advice to them on proper living. She stayed for ten days in Northern Moor
Northern Moor
Northern Moor is an area of northern Wythenshawe in south Manchester in England, west of Northenden, north of Wythenshawe Park. Its name was formerly spelt "Northen Moor", i.e. "the moor area belonging to Northenden"....
, a suburb area in Wythenshawe
Wythenshawe
Wythenshawe is a district in the south of the city of Manchester, England.Formerly part of the administrative county of Cheshire, in 1931 Wythenshawe was transferred to the City of Manchester, which had begun building a massive housing estate there in the 1920s to resolve the problem of its inner...
, Manchester, England, and the result was The Duchess on the Estate, transmitted on ITV1 on 18 August 2009. It was considered a "hatchet job". A previous, similar television venture, "The Duchess In Hull" in which Sarah advised lower-income families on proper diet and behaviour received similar criticism.
Subsequent to the "cash for access" scandal (see next section,) Sarah was not among the 1,900 people who received an invitation to the 2011 wedding
Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton
The wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine Middleton took place on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London. Prince William, the eldest son of Charles, Prince of Wales, first met Catherine Middleton in 2001, when both were studying at the University of St Andrews. Their...
of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Cash for Access
In May 2010, Sarah was filmed by News of the World offering access to Prince Andrew for £Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
500,000 by Mazher Mahmood
Mazher Mahmood
Mazher Mahmood is an undercover reporter with The Sunday Times newspaper. He previously spent 20 years working for the defunct British tabloid newspaper News of the World. He has been dubbed as "Britain’s most notorious undercover reporter."...
, an undercover reporter posing as an Indian businessman. On the video made as a documentary source for the story, which is publicly available, Sarah is heard to say that "£500,000 when you can, to me, open doors". She is seen taking away a briefcase containing US$40,000 in cash. Exposure surrounding the incident increased Sarah's public profile and notoriety. For instance, Sterling Publishers
Sterling Publishing
Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. is a publisher of nonfiction titles, with more than 5,000 books in print. Founded in 1949, it publishes a wide range of nonfiction and illustrated titles in categories which include art, biography/autobiography, body/mind/spirit, crafts, culinary, do-it-yourself,...
substantially increased the print run of Ashley Learns About Strangers, the Duchess's latest book for children; however, the notoriety did not translate into additional book sales. Sarah excused her behaviour in an interview with Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...
by saying that that she had been drinking prior to soliciting the cash, and was "in the gutter at that moment".
Further debt problems
In April 2010, a claim against the Duchess was made by Davenport LyonsDavenport Lyons
Davenport Lyons is a London-based law firm who provide legal advice and services across various fields. Although most of their work concerns corporate acquisitions, in 2007 their actions against file sharers became news in the United Kingdom...
, a leading London firm of solicitors, for a reported £200,000 in unpaid legal fees. It was reported in August 2010 that the Duchess might declare voluntary bankruptcy with debts of £5 million, though other sources have suggested she owes about £2 million.
In March 2011 it was reported that Jeffrey Epstein
Jeffrey Epstein
Jeffrey Edward Epstein is an American financier. He served 13 months in jail of an 18-month sentence as a convicted sex offender in the state of Florida for soliciting an underage girl for prostitution...
had helped the Duchess avoid bankruptcy by paying off some of her debts. The payments were reportedly made after intervention from the Duke of York.
In the Summer of 2011, "Finding Sarah" aired on the OWN network. Sarah recorded this 8 part series for the network to record her journey of finding herself again. Several times throughout the show, a re-marriage to Prince Andrew was not ruled out in her future plans.
Charity work
- 1993, the Duchess founded Children in CrisisChildren in CrisisChildren in Crisis is a charity based in London, United Kingdom which states that it "exists to improve the lives of children around the world affected by conflict, deprivation, poverty or other hidden crises, by working in partnership with local communities to provide education, healthcare and...
based in London with the support of two current trustees: Grahame Harding and Paul Szkiler. Over the years, Children in Crisis has grown to help over 250,000 children annually in 10 countries around the world. - 2003, she joined the American Cancer SocietyAmerican Cancer SocietyThe American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
at a congressional briefing. Sarah, Duchess of York, was a founding supporter of The American Cancer Society’s Great American Weigh In, an annual campaign (modelled after the Society’s Great American Smoke Out) aimed at raising awareness of the link between excess weight and cancer. - 2004, Sarah, Duchess of York, was named the official spokesperson of SOS Children's Villages - USASOS Children's Villages - USASOS Children’s Villages - USA is part of SOS Children's Villages, the largest orphan and abandoned children’s charity in the world. SOS Children's Villages - USA has been in operation since 1969 and has 501 tax exempt status...
; she is no longer affiliated with this charity. - 2005, Sarah, Duchess of York, was named a global ambassador for Ronald McDonald House; she is no longer affiliated with this charity.
- 2006, Sarah, Duchess of York, established The Sarah Ferguson Foundation based in Toronto, which derives funds from Sarah's commercial work and private donations with the aim of supporting charities internationally that serve children and families in dire need. Included under this umbrella organization is her patronage of several British charities, including Mental Disability Rights InternationalMental Disability Rights InternationalDisability Rights International , is a Washington, DC based human rights advocacy organization that documents conditions, publishes reports, and promotes international oversight of the rights of mentally disabled people...
, the Teenage Cancer TrustTeenage Cancer TrustTeenage Cancer Trust is a charity that focuses on the needs of teenagers and young adults with cancer, leukaemia, Hodgkin’s and related diseases by providing specialist teenage units in NHS hospitals. The units are dedicated areas for teenage patients, who are involved in their concept and creation...
, Tommy's, and the Motor Neurone Disease AssociationMotor Neurone Disease AssociationThe Motor Neurone Disease Association is a British charity, operating in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, established in 1979 by a group of volunteers to coordinate care, support, and research for people affected by motor neurone disease .The aim of the MND Association is a world free of MND.The...
. - 2010, she became a supporter of The Mullany Fund, whose aim is to support UK students wishing to study medicine or physiotherapy.
Books
- Budgie the Little HelicopterBudgie the Little HelicopterBudgie the Little Helicopter is a series of children's books and animated television series relating to a fictional character 'Budgie' and his friends. The characters were based on the books by Sarah, Duchess of York , who was influenced by her flight training in the Royal Navy...
books and animated children’s television programme:- 1989, Budgie the Little Helicopter
- 1989, Budgie at Bendick's Point
- 1991, Budgie and the Blizzard
- 1992, The Adventures of Budgie
- 1993, Budgie Goes to Sea
- 1996, Budgie's Book of Colors
- 1996, Budgie and Pippa Count to Ten!
- 1995, Travels with Queen Victoria
- 1996, My Story (autobiography)
- For young girls:
- 1997, The Royal Switch
- 1997, Bright Lights
- Lifestyle books with Weight WatchersWeight WatchersWeight Watchers is an international company that offers various dieting products and services to assist weight loss and maintenance. Founded in 1963 by Brooklyn homemaker Jean Nidetch, it operates in about 30 countries around the world, generally under names that are local translations of “Weight...
:- 1998, Dining with The Duchess
- 1999, Dieting with The Duchess
- 2000, Win the Weight Game
- 2001, Reinventing Yourself
- 2002, Energy Breakthrough
- 2003, What I Know Now: Simple Lessons Learned the Hard Way
- 2003, Reflections. The Duchess published a collection of her photographs in an art book, sold only in Britain, with all proceeds benefiting her UK-based charity, Children in Crisis.
- 2003, Little Red
- 2004, Little Red’s Christmas Story
- 2006, Little Red’s Summer Adventure
- 2008, Tea for Ruby
- 2011, Finding Sarah
Film
In May 2004, Sarah hosted an eleven-minute production featurette on Universal’s DVD 'The Legacy of Pan'. Five months later, Walt DisneyThe Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
Feature Animation released a special DVD The Cat That Looked at a King, with Sarah's voice in the role of the Queen; the story is derived from the Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins is a series of children's books written by P. L. Travers and originally illustrated by Mary Shepard. The books centre on a magical English nanny, Mary Poppins. She is blown by the East wind to Number Seventeen Cherry Tree Lane, London and into the Banks' household to care for their...
books by P. L. Travers
P. L. Travers
Pamela Lyndon Travers OBE was an Australian novelist, actress and journalist, popularly remembered for her series of children's novels about the mystical and magical nanny Mary Poppins...
. Sarah had a producing role (credited as "Sarah Ferguson") in the 2009 Jean-Marc Vallée
Jean-Marc Vallée
Jean-Marc Vallée is a Canadian film director and screenwriter from Quebec. He is best known for the film C.R.A.Z.Y. which is one of the most successful films in Quebec history, both financially and critically...
film The Young Victoria
The Young Victoria
The Young Victoria is a 2009 period drama film based on the early life and reign of Queen Victoria, and her marriage to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The film was directed by Jean-Marc Vallée and written by screenwriter Julian Fellowes. Graham King, Martin Scorsese, Sarah, Duchess of...
, starring Emily Blunt
Emily Blunt
Emily Olivia Leah Blunt is an English actress best known for her roles in The Devil Wears Prada , The Young Victoria , and The Adjustment Bureau . She has been nominated for two Golden Globe Awards, two London Film Critics' Circle Awards, and one BAFTA Award...
and featured a background player role for Sarah's daughter Princess Beatrice.
TV and radio
- Health advisor in 'The Duchess In Hull' on ITV1.
- In the United Kingdom:
- Guest editor on BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
Today program. - Regular contributor to BBC RadioBBC RadioBBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
2’s primetime lifestyle show Steve Wright. - Previously co-produced and served as presenter in a documentary for BBC television called In Search of the Spirit.
- Hosted an 8-part panel talk show on Britain’s SkyOne television in 1998.
- Appeared in an episode of the Vicar of Dibley.
- Travelled to Romania and Turkey for the documentary, Duchess and Daughters: their secret mission, shown on ITV1 on 6 November 2008, investigating poor treatment and conditions in children's institutions in those two countries.
- 5 March 2009 – The Graham Norton ShowThe Graham Norton ShowThe Graham Norton Show is a British comedy chat show that is broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom. It was originally shown on BBC Two from February 2007 to May 2009 until it moved to BBC One from October 2009...
, BBC Two. - 18 August 2009 – The Duchess on the Estate, ITV1 (about Northern Moor, Manchester).
- 1 September 2009 – Loose WomenLoose WomenLoose Women is a British lunchtime television programme, first broadcast in 1999 on ITV. It consists of a panel of four women who interview celebrities and discuss topical issues, ranging from daily politics and current affairs, to celebrity gossip...
, ITV1.
- Guest editor on BBC Radio 4
- In the United States:
- Special correspondent to the NBC Today Show, with regular "From the Heart" segments that profile inspiring Americans who make extraordinary contributions to others despite formidable personal obstacles.
- Substitute host for CNN’s Larry King LiveLarry King LiveLarry King Live is an American talk show hosted by Larry King on CNN from 1985 to 2010. It was CNN's most watched and longest-running program, with over one million viewers nightly....
. - Substitute host for ABC's The View.
- Appeared as herself in the episode "The One with Ross's Wedding" of popular American sitcom FriendsFriendsFriends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The series revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
. - Appeared as herself in The Celebrity Apprentice.
- Appeared on The Tyra Banks ShowThe Tyra Banks ShowThe Tyra Banks Show, also known as and shortened to Tyra or The Tyra Show, is an American talk show hosted by Tyra Banks. The last new episode aired on Friday, May 28, 2010.-2005-2009: Syndication:...
, talking about her work with Weight WatchersWeight WatchersWeight Watchers is an international company that offers various dieting products and services to assist weight loss and maintenance. Founded in 1963 by Brooklyn homemaker Jean Nidetch, it operates in about 30 countries around the world, generally under names that are local translations of “Weight...
and her personal style. - Appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show on 11 May 2011.
- Appeared on mini-series on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, Finding Sarah: From Royalty to the Real World, in June 2011. Talks about her struggles through life with family and finances.
Cultural references
- Sarah's marriage is mentioned in the Sue TownsendSue Townsend-Adrian Mole series:* The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾ , her best selling book, and the best-selling new British fiction book of the 1980s.* The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole * The True Confessions of Adrian Albert Mole...
book The True Confessions of Adrian Albert MoleThe True Confessions of Adrian Albert MoleThe True Confessions of Adrian Albert Mole, Margaret Hilda Roberts and Susan Lillian Townsend is the third book in the Adrian Mole series, written by Sue Townsend. It focuses on the worries and regrets of a teenage intellectual...
. It mentions Mr. Mole calling Buckingham Palace and asking for the Duchess, and also him sending her a note to meet him outside the gates of Buckingham Palace to run away with him as she is his soul mate. - In the 1992 BottomBottom (TV series)Bottom was a British sitcom television series that originally aired on BBC2 between 1991 and 1995. It was written by comic duo Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson who star as Richie and Eddie, two flatmates living on the dole in Hammersmith, London...
episode "DiggerDigger (Bottom episode)"Digger" is the first episode of the second series of British TV sitcom Bottom. It was first broadcast on 1 October 1992.-Synopsis :After visiting a dating agency, Richie and his 'Butler', Jives prepare to entertain aristocracy, with Richie having sold his kidney on the black market to afford the...
", the Duchess is rejected with great disgust as a potential match for Eddie when visiting a dating service, giving an outcry of "Do you mind?! I'm a respectable man!" - From 1995 onwards, the character of The Girlfriend in Matthew Bourne's Swan LakeMatthew Bourne's Swan LakeMatthew Bourne's Swan Lake is a piece of ballet-influenced contemporary dance choreographed by Matthew Bourne that was first staged at Sadler's Wells theatre in London in 1995. The longest running ballet in London's West End and on Broadway, it has enjoyed two successful tours in the UK and...
is thought to be based on, or has similarities to (in terms of her acceptance by the rest of the Royal Family) the Duchess. - In May 1998, Sarah appeared as herself in the fourth season finale of the television show FriendsFriendsFriends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The series revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
. She was credited as "Sarah, The Duchess of York". - In May 2000, in the American sitcom Will & GraceWill & GraceWill & Grace was an American television sitcom that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 21, 1998 to May 18, 2006 for a total of eight seasons. Will & Grace remains the most successful television series with gay principal characters...
episode "My Best Friend's Tush," the characters Grace AdlerGrace AdlerGrace Elizabeth Adler-Markus is a fictional character on the American sitcom Will & Grace, portrayed by Debra Messing. She is a Jewish interior designer , living in New York City with her gay best friend Will Truman...
(Debra MessingDebra MessingDebra Lynn Messing is an American actress, voice artist, and comedienne. She is perhaps best known for her role as Grace Adler in the NBC sitcom Will & Grace and as Molly Kagan in the mini-series The Starter Wife....
) and Karen Walker (Megan MullallyMegan MullallyMegan Mullally is an American actress and singer.After working in the theatre in Chicago, Mullally moved to Los Angeles in 1985 and began to appear in supporting roles in film and television productions. She made her Broadway debut in Grease in 1994 and she has since appeared in several Broadway...
) visit a taco restaurant to find Helena Barnes (Joan CollinsJoan CollinsJoan Henrietta Collins, OBE , is an English actress, author, and columnist. Born in Paddington and raised in Maida Vale, Collins grew up during the Second World War. At the age of nine, she made her stage debut in A Doll's House and after attending school, she was classically trained as an actress...
). While there, Karen, under her alias Anastasia Beaverhousen, claims to see "The Duchess of York". In shock, Grace asks "Do you think that Weight WatchersWeight WatchersWeight Watchers is an international company that offers various dieting products and services to assist weight loss and maintenance. Founded in 1963 by Brooklyn homemaker Jean Nidetch, it operates in about 30 countries around the world, generally under names that are local translations of “Weight...
knows about this?" - The 2006 title of R&B/Hip HopHip hop musicHip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
singer Stacy "Fergie" FergusonStacy FergusonStacy Ann Ferguson , better known by her stage name Fergie, is an American singer-songwriter, fashion designer and actress. She was a member of the children's television series Kids Incorporated and the girl group Wild Orchid. She is the female vocalist for the hip hop group The Black Eyed Peas...
's debut album, The Dutchess (dutchess is a Middle EnglishMiddle EnglishMiddle English is the stage in the history of the English language during the High and Late Middle Ages, or roughly during the four centuries between the late 11th and the late 15th century....
spelling of duchess) was a reference to the fact that the two are associated with the same surname. According to various media outlets, the Duchess of York called Fergie after the release of her album and remarked: "Fergie, it's Fergie... Now that you've done this, you have to sing at a concert for my foundation, 'Children in Crisis'." Fergie agreed and committed to charity concerts in London and New York City. - In November 2006, Sarah was honoured for her AIDS campaigning at the New York AIDS Film Festival.
- In February 2007, Sarah was named Mother of the Year by the American Cancer SocietyAmerican Cancer SocietyThe American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
.
Titles and styles
- 15 October 1959 – 23 July 1986: Miss Sarah Margaret Ferguson
- 23 July 1986 – 30 May 1996: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of York
- 30 May 1996 – 21 August 1996: Her Royal Highness Sarah, Duchess of York
- 21 August 1996 – Present: Sarah, Duchess of York
Sarah's full title during her marriage was: Her Royal Highness The Princess Andrew Albert Christian Edward, Duchess of York, Countess of Inverness, Baroness Killyleagh.
Immediately after her divorce she retained the style Her Royal Highness; however on 21 August 1996 letters patent
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
were issued which removed the title from divorced ex-wives of princes. She remained titled Sarah, Duchess of York in keeping with the standard form of address for former wives of peers. After divorce she was no longer a British princess
British princess
This is a list of British princesses from the accession of King George I in 1714. This article deals with both princesses of the blood royal and women who become princesses upon marriage....
but remained a duchess.
Ancestry
Issue
| Name | | Birth | | Marriage | Issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princess Beatrice of York Princess Beatrice of York Princess Beatrice of York is the elder daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York... |
8 August 1988 | |||
| Princess Eugenie of York Princess Eugenie of York Princess Eugenie of York Eugenie Victoria Helena; born 23 March 1990) is the younger daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York... |
23 March 1990 | |||