Sarah, Duchess of York: "Cash for Access" - May 2010

[Marengo]

How sad to see to what depths the duchess has sunk. IMHO , Libby Purves of the Times just hits the nail on the head:

Big business is too big a deal for the Duchess of York

She is neither evil nor greedy, but Sarah Ferguson should be tucked away cooking hearty lasagnes in the shires

I can’t cry “Disgrace!”, just “Oh, the pity!” I really wanted this story to be an exaggeration or unfair entrapment, but it wasn’t. Yesterday morning, courtesy or discourtesy of the News of the World’s secret cameras we (and the poor old Queen) woke to news of the newspaper sting.

In an echo of the recent cash-for-influence trapping of MPs, the Duchess of York was filmed trying to sell access to her former husband, the Duke of York. The reporter posing as a rich businessman was not vetted; she asked for a confidentiality agreement, but carried on recklessly when he wouldn’t sign it, trustfully asking him to keep the deal secret even from her own aides.

So now, online across the world, the duchess can be heard burbling absurdly: “I never talk about money ever, but since we’ve got business hats on, I’m going to . . .”, gloating over bundles of notes, and negotiating half a million pounds for the Andrew introduction, “because really I think you two could really do some good business together”. She does remember herself enough to insist touchingly that her children’s father is “whiter than white” because he is “the Prince of England” and can’t earn, but “look after me and he’ll look after you”. Rather less touchingly, apparently in a flat lie, she claims that he is aware of the deal: “And as Andrew said . . . Andrew will play as long as it’s nothing to do with him.” She asks for “a percentage” of any phantom deal on top of her half-million, remembers to stipulate a bit for her charities, and claims that she often hears through her husband of “viable projects” and investments. Yeah, right.

Read more here.

Courtesy: Janet at the BRMB.

[CrownPrincess5]

I've been silent on this but I think this is really sad. I never thought she would sink so low. This is very low of her. I never want to imagine the depth of shame she is feeling right now. Let's not judge her though. Sometimes when people think they have no options they do desperate things in desperate times. I hope she bounces back. Don't get me wrong, what she did IS a disgrace. This story is all over the news and its shameful of her. This could not have possibly been her last resort. There are so many other things she could do. But when someone is used to riches, they want riches.

I do agree that she shouldn't live beyond her means but shewas married to a prince! I think it was wrong to give her so little of a settlement, but it's wrong to do what she did too. Sarah's daughters are heirs to the throne. Sarah should be receiving more than $21,000 dollars a year! WTC! The part about Andrew is quite frankly beyond terrible. I guess desperate times call for desperate measures....even for a Duchess......

[Russophile]

Originally Posted by princess gertrude

I have to agree, whatever the settlement, she'd have spent all of it. Definately living beyond her means. When you think about it, she really could have had a tidy little life. Live free of charge with Andrew, see her girls whenever she wanted and done some charity work on the side. She could have banked her payments and still taken decent vacations and bought nice clothes.

She didn't want to. She wanted to live the glamourous Diana life. And this is the result.
I don't see what, if anything, the BRF could do to fix Sarah. She has serious psychological problems, IMO. She doesn't respect or love herself and treats herself shabbily, and now the BRF. She should just pop herself into a rehab facility and then she would have the public sympathy and favor and hopefully, LEARN some NEW--HEALTHY behaviors!!

[Saragli]

The Times article says it perfectly, nothing else to be said really I think. It will just be interesting to see the fallout. I don't think the fallout will be that bad though, as long as Andrew is protected, Sarah will just be humiliated and eventually move on. Move on to what, who knows. Hopefully a quieter, stable life in the UK. She loves American and quiet rightly has a grudge against her own country, but I think she needs to finally come to terms with everything that has happened throughout her life and realize she is not an american celebrity but a former british royal.

[Marengo]

Indeed, let's hope something good will come out of this and that she will change her lifestyle to somethig more fitting her financial means.

Although technically it is not the responsibility of the BRF, I think it would be foolish not to prevent the duchess from digging her own grave any further. Who knows what is next? And even though she is divorced, her behavior still reflects on the image of the roya family, like it or not.

[COUNTESS]

Oh, stop it. They all sell themselves. Sarah is just a product of marrying into a family that has never earned a dime, but thinks the world is coming to them. Paying taxes, until not too long ago was beneath them (how they got a good deal of this fortune) as the rest of the suckers were paying taxes and supporting them. Cutting ribbons and the like is not work. She is frivolous and silly. So are they. Look at the jewlels that hang around the neck of the DOC. Taken from governments who are less tha friendly at times. And she is a former mistress. Good job. Tours through Buckingham Palace, were instituted to pay for the fire at Windsor, which they had hoped would be paid for by taxpayers. That was "their home". Everyone sells what they have when they need cash. Andrew is what she has.

[NotAPretender]

The very thought of a remarriage makes me shudder.

As I said before, it's not my idea of a great solution, but a bear-down-for-England solution: the BRF has got to step in and put a shield up between this woman and her own self. We can say things like greed, and we'd be right, but I think this a seriously damaged person who came into the family seriously damaged. The BRF has no obligation to assist but it is in their own best interest to do so.

She needs very serious mental assistance and perhaps the best solution of all is for her to disappear and let the adults sort out the mess - then permanently remove the car keys, the bank access, and perhaps even the passport for the time being.

There simply isn't a cure for stupidity, and when you have on top of that a completely addictive personality (to sex, to drugs back in the 1980's, to the booze, to money, to the spotlight...) and some deep-to-the-bone mental illnesses, you have the perfect concoction for a You Tube video. Except that this one has consequences.

No, throw the gentle white net over this one and drag her off for treatment. Have the band play louder to cover the cries of "but that's my cue! I must go on!"

Anyone that lends her a half-penny after this gets exactly what they deserve.

And no, there isn't anything justifiable about helping her out, especially to everyone who has taken financial hits in the past few years. But it's not like the BRF is exactly shopping at Tesco. They can and should step up, remove her from finances, and go from there.

If there is really an island of misfit toys, then perhaps they have a jet that can take her there.

Edited to add: I looked at the wedding snaps on-line again and oh, how I was happy that day even though I always had a soft spot for Andrew. What a tawdry outcome.

[Warren]

An Australian perspective...
Sydney Morning Herald 25 May 2010

Sarah Ferguson's A$50,000 deal with Woman's Day...
Two for the price of one: how magazine scored with Fergie 'money shot'

On Sarah Ferguson and tabloid stings...
For sale: how a desperate duchess fell on hard times

On a reporter's contact with Sarah when she was in Sydney...
My royal flush, when I met Fergie, Di and Charles
.

[CrownPrincess5]

Wow. The name of Sarah Ferguson is dirt now.

[charlottestreasures]

Diana and Sarah were never supported probably from the beginning.
Sarah was not allowed to be a Navy Wife even though The Queen herself
was one when she first married Philip.
Sarah is not perfect but if she had been given a proper divorce settlement and had her debts cleared at that time she would not have had to sell her
name to earn her living.

The latest scandal does look degrading, but then how many other royals
are making money off of their status. I do not believe for a moment that
Andrew is innocent in this. I remember that she got the blame for the
Hello article with them and their babies and it was Andrew who actually
had set this up.

Maybe they should look to the house of Denmark to learn how to prepare
those who are entering the royal house and how to treat them when they leave!

[Duchessmary]

I just watched a piece on Larry King Live about this. The editor of News of the World was on there, telling everyone what a sordid piece of work Sarah is. I was shouting at the TV "And what does that make you, you *&@#$%!!!!" She was foolish to get "stung" but this tabloid is scum of the Earth.

[NotAPretender]

Originally Posted by Duchessmary

I just watched a piece on Larry King Live about this. The editor of News of the World was on there, telling everyone what a sordid piece of work Sarah is. I was shouting at the TV "And what does that make you, you *&@#$%!!!!" She was foolish to get "stung" but this tabloid is scum of the Earth.

No shooting the messenger, now. The Duchess of York did this to herself.

[Vasillisos Markos]

Greed and avarice is what this is and willing to stoop so low I think is a reflection of her character. Sarah was trying to make a quick fast buck doing something unethical, not to say possibly illegal. She is entitled to make a living and to want more but do something respectable or make do with what you have.

[Warren]

Maybe I'm less harsh but I think it's more likely a case of desperation rather than greed or avarice.

Nonetheless, what's hard to understand is why, after all this time, 'someone' hasn't insisted she appoint a reputable accountant or whatever to take control of her financial affairs. It's patently obvious (and has been for some time) that she's simply incapable of managing her own finances.

[georgiea]

Originally Posted by Zonk

I dont think Sarah was with Weight Watchers for ten years. And i do think she lost some of her money in the global climate....but hasn't anyone learned from the Great Depression?! The market crashes of the 80's and 90's?

From 1997-2007 she served as U.S. spokesperson for Weight Watchers International, Inc and during that time she distinguished herself as a passionate wellness advocate and proponent for healthy weight-loss and weight management. Quoted from an article about the Duchess and Weight Watchers.

So Sarah did make either 10 million or 20 million in that time span.

Joy Behar show had the author those book is coming out about William and Harry next week. She did not stay much except that Fergie really did not get much alimony from the BRF. And that it's hard for a Duchess to get a regular job. The author did plug her book by saying Ms Middleton is like by the Queen and the establishment by the way she has acted in the relationship with Prince William.

[Vasillisos Markos]

Sorry, maybe I was harsh by suggesting greed motivated Sarah's actions but really, do we expect to give her a pass because she cannot manage her finances? I'm sure her divorce lowered her lifestyle to which she had become accustomed but doesn't everyone run that risk, royal or commoner? Not only did she make money by being a Weight Watchers spokesperson but what about her books for children? Did she keep any of the profits or did the proceeds go to charity?

[CrownPrincess5]

Originally Posted by Vasillisos Markos

Sorry, maybe I was harsh by suggesting greed motivated Sarah's actions but really, do we expect to give her a pass because she cannot manage her finances?

Of course not. No one is giving her a pass, but I think everyone is extra hard on her because of her position in life.

Originally Posted by Warren

Maybe I'm less harsh but I think it's more likely a case of desperation rather than greed or avarice.

Nonetheless, what's hard to understand is why, after all this time, 'someone' hasn't insisted she appoint a reputable accountant or whatever to take control of her financial affairs. It's patently obvious (and has been for some time) that she's simply incapable of managing her own finances.

I agree. This seems like desperation to me and she is in dire straits now, I think it would be wise to hire someone to handle her finances. Some people just aren't good at handling money.

[CrownPrincess5]

Originally Posted by georgiea

From 1997-2007 she served as U.S. spokesperson for Weight Watchers International, Inc and during that time she distinguished herself as a passionate wellness advocate and proponent for healthy weight-loss and weight management. Quoted from an article about the Duchess and Weight Watchers.

So Sarah did make either 10 million or 20 million in that time span.

But did she actually make that much? Sometimes the actual worth is a little vague.

[greenways]

This type of underhanded behaviour appears to be nothing new to Sarah. A book I recently finished reading called - FERGIE, HER SECRET LIFE - written by Alan Starkie (1996), is an interesting insight into the way Sarah lives her life. The author was her "right hand man" for many years and the book is very much an inside look. She seems to have sociopathic tendencies, certainly a split personality and is quite prepared to throw anyone she needs to - under the bus. Author observes blatant disregard for others, when she is in need. The author appears not to hate her, even though he ended up in huge financial debt, due to Fergies wheeling and dealing in Germany and his reluctant involvment in that. He sympathises to a degree. Interesting read!

[Warren]

The book was written 14 years ago. While some aspects of Sarah's personality may be unchanged there's nothing in recent history to suggest she's a bad or nasty or malevolent person; she seems to be more of what I'd term a "hopeless case" who needs protecting from herself.

In retrospect, her financial incompetence was a disaster waiting to happen and again I wonder why no-one close to her didn't try to place her financial affairs in order and under some control. Maybe they did try, but not hard enough.