A Wife for Prince Andrew, Duke of York

[Russophile]

Originally Posted by MRSJ

Could Sarah choose to go back to her maiden name if she wanted?

I don't see why not? The American press uses it all the time.
Here's an example: Sarah Ferguson says royal wedding snub was "difficult" - Royal Wedding Blog - CBS News

[NotAPretender]

Originally Posted by MRSJ

Could Sarah choose to go back to her maiden name if she wanted?

She could, of course. But why would she ever? It's reaped millions of dollars for her - quite literally, millions. Her whole identity is wrapped up in clinging to the "Duchess of York" label.

I think she'd sooner eat rat poison or drink tea with ground glass, than go back to being Sarah mere Ferguson.

[Iluvbertie]

Originally Posted by XeniaCasaraghi

Ok, this is starting to make sense to me. It reminds me of the Mary, Queen of Scots situation. I get the titles now, but why will Sarah "always" be the Duchess of York unless she remarries. Shouldn't that title be taken away when she divorces the Duke of York?

Look at it this way.

Jane Jones married John Smith. They get married so Jane becames Mrs Jane Smith - taking her husband's name etc. They then divorce and she is able to still call herself Mrs Jane Smith.

Sarah is no different. She was married to Andrew and until she remarries is entitled to use that married form of her name that also shows that she is divorced - Sarah, Duchess of York (which is why I get frustrated and upset when people use that styling for Camilla and Sophie).

[Kataryn]

Originally Posted by Zonk

Sarah's title is that of a Divorced Peeress..so she is Sarah, Duchess of York.

If Andrew remarries his wife would be HRH The Duchess of York.

Sarah still uses the name "The Duchess of York" on her business cards. One was printed in a paper when the "Cash for access"-scandal broke and there it said: "The Duchess of York", not "Sarah, Duchess of York".

This is what I found on google:

http://www.anatzarev.com/news/2010/0...tzarev-gallery

in it, she signs Sarah, The Duchess of York. It seems she does that on a regular basis:

http://www.harestyling.com/site/wp-c...rk-500x630.jpg

I think it's strange - according to protocoll, Sarah couldn't use her first name as long as she was Andrews wife: she was The Princess Andrew, Duchess of York or HRH The Duchess of York. Now that she is divorced, she combines her first name Sarah with "The Duchess of York" as if she, like her daughters, was a Royal in her own right...

[Zonk]

Let's get back on topic.

Posts on how Sarah (and members of the British Royal Family) style themselves should be made here http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums...es-258-46.html

Additional off topic posts will be deleted without notice.

Zonk
British Forums Moderator

[nancybee]

I don't believe they will ever remarry. I think Prince Andrew cares for Sarah (mother of his children and all that) but I really don't believe he is IN love with her anymore. Sadly, because of Sarah's emotional problems, she was unable to build a strong, happy union with him. I think it is more Sarah than Andrew hanging onto this relationship. I would not want someone like that hanging onto me the rest of my life.

[nancybee]

Originally Posted by Zonk

I say let bygones be bygones. If Andrew has forgiven her...does it matter what the rest of us think. And not to bring up the Camillla situation again...but if she can be accepted into the fold...why can't Sarah? Or is forgiveness, committing adultrey, and making a mistake only available for a few?

Alright - Ms. Feguson as we all know, has embarrassed herself and the Royals for the last 20 years. I personally believe she has serious emotional problems. The Queen I think was at a point where she was going to let bygones be bygones when Sarah made another mistake with trying to sell access to her husband. She has made lots of money in the last 15 years - I think the diet company was paying her a million dollars a year. Give me a break! Also, when she appears on the Oprah special in the next couple of weeks, Dr. Phil is going to confront her about possible substance abuse problems. I had an alcoholic father and had to spend the first 20 years of my life with a parent who abused alcohol and it was hell. I could not live again with someone who had similiar problems. There seems to be a selfish quality to these people. But anyway, I read once that once you have crossed the Queen, you are in big trouble. So I cannot see Andrew and Sarah getting back together. I think he has some type of affection for her as she is the mother of his children but that is all. And Camilla has never done anything inappropriate in all these years so I think that it is a totally different situation.

[Mermaid1962]

Plus, Camilla wasn't married to Prince Charles once and divorced from him. She's also never given an interview about her life in the Royal Family or caught in a "sting."

Originally Posted by nancybee

And Camilla has never done anything inappropriate in all these years so I think that it is a totally different situation.

[HRH Princess Sonya]

Originally Posted by nancybee

I don't believe they will ever remarry. I think Prince Andrew cares for Sarah (mother of his children and all that) but I really don't believe he is IN love with her anymore. Sadly, because of Sarah's emotional problems, she was unable to build a strong, happy union with him. I think it is more Sarah than Andrew hanging onto this relationship. I would not want someone like that hanging onto me the rest of my life.

I have the same point of view although unpopular but real. I understand letting the past go. However if a person keeps dragging you thru the mud it wears you out. Athough you may may love & want the best for someone they can still wear you out. At that point for your preservation you need to walk away. For P.A.'s sake I hope he finally has and meets someone that he can share his life with and not live in a " what the hell is she gonna do next" mode.

[Mirabel]

Originally Posted by Mermaid1962

Plus, Camilla wasn't married to Prince Charles once and divorced from him. She's also never given an interview about her life in the Royal Family or caught in a "sting."

I think Camilla has managed to overcome much of the hostility generated by their affair, simply by being quietly supportive of Charles, and taking pains to establish a good relationship with his sons and the rest of the RF. She's kept things low-key, not flaunting her sudden elevation in status, not being greedy and grasping. So, she has it all.

Fergie should take a leaf from her book; it is possible to live down scandals if you go about it the right way, and don't keep adding fuel to the flames.

[Lady Arlette]

I don't think Sarah can just go quietly. She hasn't been quiet for 20 years. I think Andrew is happily single and that is why he hasn't remarried. If he seriously wanted to remarry I think he would have done so by now.

[grevinnan]

Originally Posted by Lady Arlette

I don't think Sarah can just go quietly. She hasn't been quiet for 20 years. I think Andrew is happily single and that is why he hasn't remarried. If he seriously wanted to remarry I think he would have done so by now.

Once you have been married and had your children the need to remarry after a divorce is not as urgent. P. Andrew seems quite content so getting married again is perhaps not very important.

[Mermaid1962]

I remember him saying during an interview that he "wasn't good at marriage." So perhaps he just doesn't want to take that chance again.

Originally Posted by grevinnan

P. Andrew seems quite content so getting married again is perhaps not very important.

[Russophile]

I dunno, he was pretty hot on Angie Everhart and that blonde finacier who decided not to get serious with him.

[wa3kittiees]

I was watching a documentary 'The Royal Family at Work' & there was a close-up of the Duke of York's left hand -- he was (at the time of the filming, 2007 (I think)) still wearing his wedding band. It was quite visible behind his signet ring on his pinkie.

So ... I think I must agree with those he think he will never marry another. I find it a bit telling (&, quite frankly, odd) that a divorced man would wear his wedding band after so many years.
& yes, I know Charles did the same until his engagement to Camilla -- I thought that a bit odd too.

Anyway, I was really struck by the fact of him still wearing the band a good 10 years after the divorce.

[Moonmaiden23]

Doesn't Sarah wear hers too?

Maybe it's some sort of rebellious agreement they made between themselves.

If Andrew ever remarries anyone, it will be his first wife. But I'd be surprised if he ever got married again.

[AristoCat]

I think it's best a remarriage doesn't happen at all. When Fergie was an "HRH" she was all over hte place making a huge mess of herself, but also dragging the RF along as well. Without the "HRH," she can only ruin herself and she is actually under more constraints because she has to be somewhat careful because she needs to make a living. She doesn't have HM to fall back on to pay her debts, she has to do it herself. The courtiers dont' have to clean up her messes, they don't have to worry about her image, and Andrew isn't going ot run the risk of a laughingstock. She's done so much damage and I think that at some point, in the future, she's going to do something that will be even worse.

Her scandals are getting worse and worse and worse and the quotes from her new book shows she's comepletely slipping out of reality and I think the next scandal will be historical in proportion. He might be unable to make nice friends if he has his ex hanging around all the time. Successful women who would make good consorts do not want a mooching ex hanging around where they are living.

[Iluvbertie]

Originally Posted by AristoCat

I think it's best a remarriage doesn't happen at all. When Fergie was an "HRH" she was all over hte place making a huge mess of herself, but also dragging the RF along as well. Without the "HRH," she can only ruin herself and she is actually under more constraints because she has to be somewhat careful because she needs to make a living. She doesn't have HM to fall back on to pay her debts, she has to do it herself. The courtiers dont' have to clean up her messes, they don't have to worry about her image, and Andrew isn't going ot run the risk of a laughingstock. She's done so much damage and I think that at some point, in the future, she's going to do something that will be even worse.

Her scandals are getting worse and worse and worse and the quotes from her new book shows she's comepletely slipping out of reality and I think the next scandal will be historical in proportion. He might be unable to make nice friends if he has his ex hanging around all the time. Successful women who would make good consorts do not want a mooching ex hanging around where they are living.

You have outlined all the reasons why the RF need to bring her back in from the cold - so they can have a greater control over what she does, where she goes, with whom she consorts etc.

Whether that is through re-marriage or some other way I don't know but I do think that the RF needs to control her for the sake of Andrew and the girls - particularly the girls who are just entering their adult years - and in the case of Beatrice probably going to be looking for jobs in the next for months.

[Renata4711]

Yes, ILuvBertie, but if remarriage is not to be an option (Queen would be against), then Fergie ought to be made to sign a contract or agreement of some sort.

She is a loose cannon and could potentially cause even more (!) huge embarassment to the BRF.

[Iluvbertie]

Originally Posted by Renata4711

Yes, ILuvBertie, but if remarriage is not to be an option (Queen would be against), then Fergie ought to be made to sign a contract or agreement of some sort.

She is a loose cannon and could potentially cause even more (!) huge embarassment to the BRF.

We don't actually know if the Queen would be against a remarriage as as far as we know she hasn't been asked. Another interesting question would be even if she had to give consent to a remarriage - as she has given her consent to a marriage between Sarah and Andrew - in 1986. The RMA doesn't mention, or deal with the situation of a divorced couple needing consent for a remarriage.

We know Andrew would need the consent of the monarch to marry someone else but does he really need it to remarry the woman who was approved in 1986????

As for a contract for Sarah - difficult to do when she isn't part of the family.