British Royals

Sarah Ferguson on Oprah

She may be in disgrace, again, but Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, still hasn’t lost her regal touch. Telling Oprah Winfrey on Tuesday about being caught on tape soliciting a £500,000 bribe from an undercover tabloid reporter posing as an Indian businessman, Ms. Ferguson kept referring to herself in the third person – the royal she.

“I feel really sorry for her,” she said while watching herself sell access to her former husband, Prince Andrew. Ms. Ferguson cast her personal worst as an aha moment. “It’s almost like I’ve freed Sarah from the treadmill of her life, really, of her long life of trying to be perfect,” Ms. Ferguson said.

Other highlights:

• She had been drinking that evening of the “Cash for Access” scandal
• When she first met the impostor, she instinctively knew he’s a News of the World reporter, and told him so.  But after some misleading research and a promise of a confidentiality agreement, she went on to have another dinner and talk with him
• Her initial urgency to get the $40,000 was to obtain money to help a friend.  That money has since been returned to News of the World.  The £500,000 was just a figure plucked from her head during their meeting to help her financial matters
• She might need to file for bankruptcy.  She won’t reveal how much in debt she is, but it’s an “upward battle.”
• She won’t confirm how much money she got from her divorce from Prince Andrew, as it would breach a confidentiality clause.
• Fergie takes this personal low as a result of 25 years of a downward spiral – of hating herself, her poor self esteem, food battles, and not facing her demons as she should have.
• In the end, Fergie admits “I think I’ve been like a huge, overtrusting, idiotic, stupid woman that went and looked for this situation, and that’s all I can say, really,” and hopes she can go forward and learn from this gigantic lesson.

Opinion: NY Times

One Backs Fergie

The Queen and Prince Charles have backed the shamed Duchess of York over the cash-for-royal-access scandal.

Fergie and ex-husband Prince Andrew met at Royal Lodge – the home they still share in Windsor Great Park – and she wept: “I’m so sorry.” Andrew, 50, revealed that the Queen and Charles had both called to say they would support him – even if he chose to stick by her.

A pal of Fergie’s said: “It meant so much to her because she is now confident that Andrew is looking out for her and it also shows she hasn’t completely alienated the Royal Family.”

Article: The Sun

Tags: andrew, fergie, scandal

Fergie after "Cash for Access" scandal broke out

Fergie to appear on Oprah

The Duchess of York is to appear on the Oprah Winfrey Show to make a public apology.

Sarah Ferguson has been in America since she was exposed in a tabloid newspaper for trying to sell access to the Duke of York for £500,000. She will record the 10 minute interview in Los Angeles on Friday but it will not be screened until next Tuesday, June 1st.

In the televised meeting, the 50-year-old will talk about the furore caused by her meeting with an undercover journalist as well as promote her new children’s book. She will not be paid for her appearance.

A source close to the duchess said: “She feels so much has been written she would like to have the chance to say sorry and explain – she’s not going to be making excuses. In a way, I suppose it is no surprise that she is going to be doing this in the US, it is where her main business interests are. Her business activities do not take place in the UK.”

The duchess has been interviewed by Oprah before, the first time soon after she divorced Prince Andrew.

Shamed Fergie is seeking bigger divorce payout from Andrew

The Duchess of York has held secret talks with Princess Diana’s lawyers about renegotiating her ‘paltry’ divorce settlement with Prince Andrew.

Sarah Ferguson consulted Anthony Julius at Mishcon de Reya, who famously negotiated a £17million pay off for Princess Diana when she divorced Prince Charles. The figure is in stark contrast to the £15,000 a year which the duchess receives from Prince Andrew after their marriage ended after ten years in 1996.

One leading divorce lawyer has estimated cash-strapped Fergie, whose reputation is now in tatters after the money-for-access scandal, is entitled to up to £7.5million more from Prince Andrew.

During the video scandal, Fergie expressed anger about the small size of her divorce settlement. Blaming it for all her money troubles, she said it had “left me without a pot to p*** in”.

Article: Daily Mail

Prince Andrew forgives Sarah Ferguson over cash scandal

Tearful Fergie was forgiven by ex-husband Prince Andrew or her “cash for access” scam. He sympathised as she poured out her heart in an emotional phone call.

The sobbing Duchess apologised for betraying his trust – and even offered to quit the room she has at his Windsor mansion. But Andrew told her: “Don’t be silly, you can stay as long as you like.”

A friend said: “He’s a very caring person. He thinks she was set up.”

Article: The Mirror

Tags: andrew, fergie, scandal