What is your opinion about Sarah, Duchess of York?

[Elspeth]

Could we turn down the heat a bit, please? This is just an exchange of opinions, and the conversation will go a lot more smoothly if people exchange opinions in a positive environment.

Since Skydragon is also British, the chances are that she's quite aware of the timing. All of us who were around then and interested in royalty probably remember that Andrew returned from the Falklands and went on vacation with Koo Stark, because the tabloids made such a meal of it at the time. I don't want to speak for Skydragon, but it's possible she meant to say "a man who had risked his life..." and assumed that people who were familiar with the Yorks would know what she was saying.

[Roslyn]

Originally Posted by servingsophie

And I defy anyone to say the Duchess doesn't have glorious legs!

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d9...s_12703922.jpg

Yes, Sarah's legs do look very nice in that pic, and in the others of that event posted at Post 142 in her Current Events thread. She is wearing very attractive dark stockings and the skirt is a sensible length. I do not, however, think that her choice of skirt in the pic Iceflower posted in Post 126 in the Current Events thread is as attractive. The skirt is short and her knees are displayed. You'll note her young daughters, whose knees probably look much nicer, are covered by their longer skirts.

I think that after about the age of 25, knees get less and less attractive, and should be covered up with stockings at least.

Roslyn,
not a fan of knees, or elbows

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by Elspeth

I don't want to speak for Skydragon, but it's possible she meant to say "a man who had risked his life..." and assumed that people who were familiar with the Yorks would know what she was saying.

Yes sorry Elspeth, I did mean to say a man who had risked his life.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by servingsophie

I'm British and remember the period with great fondness. The Duchess was afforded an equal amount of coverage by the British press during her marriage to Prince Andrew and was equally accepted and loved by the British people.

Andrew was a serving officer on active duty until 1996 and as such was doing something for his country, not prancing about in a swimsuit having his toes sucked! I know some people believe that if you are in the navy, it's just like being on a cruise, but I realise that it is hard work.
Sarah was never accepted by the British and was not, IMO ever 'loved' by them either. I hold to my belief that Sarah is loud and most of the time dressed in clothes that are designed for a younger woman - mutton dressed as lamb is the phrase that comes to mind!

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by ysbel

Interesting, skydragon. Do you equate loudness and unable to exhibit decorum as a lack of uprightness, moral standing, character?

Certainly an inability to act with decorum exhibits a lack of 'uprightness'. I well remember the horror of the incident of Sarah and Di, dressed in policewoman 'stripper' outfits trying to gatecrash Andrews stag night.

I would think, like many people, I do not enjoy the company of people who are loud, who feel no shame about talking loudly in the restaurant, shouting at their companions rather than having a quiet conversation, drowning everyone else out, informing the whole world of their love life or lack of it, shreiking with laughter as if the whole world should find you and your friends amusing. Being loud, to me shows a lack of character, a lack of consideration for companions or complete strangers.

At Sarahs' age letting it all 'hang out' IMO shows an inability to accept that she is getting older, her legs have that stringy, 'past their best' look.

[Elspeth]

Sarah was never accepted by the British and was not, IMO ever 'loved' by them either.

I think this is as much of a generalisation as the comment about how much everyone loved her. Some people thought right from the start that she was too rambunctious and vulgar, but others liked her directness and her love of the outdoors and capacity for enjoyment.

One of the problems was that the press was stirring - early on, they were comparing Sarah favourably with Diana, then they decided that she was too over-the-top and hounded her for her poor dress sense and her undisciplined loudness, when nothing much had actually changed in her life but the press were just wanting to stir up controversy and sell their papers.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by Elspeth

I think this is as much of a generalisation as the comment about how much everyone loved her.

Yes, you are right and I apologize for generalising.
The fact remains however that when she was caught cheating on Andrew, she received very little sympathy and I believe that was because she was (rightly IMO) seen as loud and uncouth.
We are so busy congratulating her on paying back her debts that we tend to forget that she managed to run them up herself in the first place, so who should have paid all her creditors if not Sarah?

[BeatrixFan]

My grandmother was at a service at Durham Cathedral way back when Sarah was still a part of the firm. Princess Alexandra was there too. In front of my grandmother was a row of wheelchairs with people with Downs Syndrome in them. Alexandra knelt down in front of each one and held their hands and spoke to them. Sarah attempted it and one of the people in a wheelchair put his hand on Sarah's arm and she jumped like a scalded cat saying, "No no, I can't have them touching me". Needless to say, Sarah was never invited back but it goes to show just how Sarah was in her early years. She may have learned alot now but she was never particularly loved IMO.

[Laviollette]

Originally Posted by ysbel

I don't think you can read that from Sarah's statement.

The girls' legal names are HRH The Princess Beatrice and HRH The Princess Eugenie. Together they would be TRH The Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

Princess Anne and Princess Margaret were known to put pesky commoners quite firmly in their place for trying to get too chummy when referring to a royal relative with phrases like 'your mother' or 'your sister' or 'your brother'. Anne would turn around and say "Are you referring to Her Majesty the Queen?" Its got to be a family habit.

I loved it.

But isn't the reason people claim to like Sarah Ferguson is because she is of the common folk variety and not a stuffy royal? She is "real" right? I think the David Letterman episode showed just what she is and that she absolutely continues to use her long-ago marriage to Prince Andrew to stay in celebrity society. I wish he'd marry some stunner and they have a son and leave Sarah behind.

[BeatrixFan]

The girls' legal names are HRH The Princess Beatrice and HRH The Princess Eugenie.

The girls are not THE Princess Beatrice and THE Princess Eugenie, they are Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. They don't get the "The" because they aren't daughters of a Sovereign.

[Laviollette]

Originally Posted by ysbel

...Regardless of whether you think Sarah has a right to correct David Letterman on titles; she married into a family where that was the expected behavior so I don't think you can read the fact that she is insecure out of this incident...

But Sarah didn't live up to the expected behavior, dignity, discretion or decorum of being a royal so why is protocol and addressing a royal properly suddenly so important to her? We know why. Because she holds on to her RF connections through Andrew and her daughters for dear life. She continues her social climbing that started when she married Andrew.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by Laviollette

But Sarah didn't live up to the expected behavior, dignity, discretion or decorum of being a royal so why is protocol and addressing a royal properly suddenly so important to her? We know why. Because she holds on to her RF connections through Andrew and her daughters for dear life. She continues her social climbing that started when she married Andrew.

Exactly, you have hit the nail on the head with your post! IMO.

[Bella]

I think Sarah is in the unfortunate position of being caught between a rock and a hard place. She's no longer a royal and is basically snubbed by them, even the "lesser" royals avoid her. They more-than-likely put up w her as the mother of two princesses when they have to. Yet despite her one-of-the-guys approach, she really isn't one of the guys because of who she WAS and who her children are. So she really doesn't fit in anywhere and I think that leaves her confused and flopping around like a fish on a board deck. Not an enviable place to be, IMO.

[BeatrixFan]

Of course, she could always get a job.

[Trudie]

I have always liked Sarah because she is such a genuine person. No matter what people think of her she is a very good mother and if the Palace had let her and Andrew have a normal marriage from day one instead of them only being together 42 days a year their marriage may have survived. All everyone talks about is her behavior unbecoming to the RF well look at Andrew and some of his undignified behavior in rhe past. And as for using her title to further herself well face it since her marriage it was and is her title and that is what businesses want not to mention she is very good at business and do not forget her charity interests especially Chances for Children.

[Zonk]

She does have a job...she works for Weight Watchers and the china company (Can't remember the name sorry...Wedgewood, Lenox?). She doesn't work in Britain...so who cares if she uses her royal connections in the states? She's not hurting anyone here. In fact, when Sarah does comes to the US..she is very low key. Does her promotional events, turns up at a party every now and then and then goes back home.

I mean Princess Michael uses her royal connections to promote herself in Britain..and she doesn't even begin (at least IMO) to get a fraction of the contempt/hatred that is directed at Sarah.. And I am just comparing their business dealings. And she is still a member of the Royal Family...albeit a junior member.

[Furienna]

You mean Princess Michael of Kent?

[Trudie]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

Andrew was a serving officer on active duty until 1996 and as such was doing something for his country, not prancing about in a swimsuit having his toes sucked! I know some people believe that if you are in the navy, it's just like being on a cruise, but I realise that it is hard work.
Sarah was never accepted by the British and was not, IMO ever 'loved' by them either. I hold to my belief that Sarah is loud and most of the time dressed in clothes that are designed for a younger woman - mutton dressed as lamb is the phrase that comes to mind!

MY ex husband served in the navy in the US and not it is not a cruise they work very hard but, We lived together as husband and wife the Palace said no to Andrew and Sarah living on a base so it is no wonder she turned to someone for comfort. Sarah was not liked by the courtiers and I believe to this day she was set up. Diana was married to the Heir so her affairs were kept quiet and given her circumstances it was no small wonder she too turned to other men for comfort.

[Zonk]

Originally Posted by Furienna

You mean Princess Michael of Kent?

Yes, I do mean Princess Michael of Kent. Sorry for the confusion.

[BeatrixFan]

She does have a job...she works for Weight Watchers and the china company

Oh now come on dear, you don't actually think Miss Ferguson actually does any work? She makes her money from the chat show circuit. She's not hurting anyone in the USA because she knows if she does there what she did here they'd kick her out as well. Now, Princess Michael doesn't work - but my God that woman has style. Sarah has nothing. She's tried the botox, she's attempted to look glam at the premieres, she's done Letterman - but she is what she is. A reject. We like Princess Michael because she's an opportunist and she's open about it. She doesn't claim to be a victim - she does what she does and does it with style and she is a true Princess. Sarah is an opportunist but she tries to present herself as this caring saviour when in actual fact, she's just a barnacle on her daughter's, trying to eek the last drops of fame before they grow up and realise that we aint laughing with Fergie - we're laughing at her. Let us never forget the prayer for Royal animals;

"We pray for Her Majesty's Corgis, Princess Anne's horses and for anything that get's sat on by the Duchess of York".

Sarah is now a nothing. A nobody. Let's just hope she'll complete the rounds, find a Liza-style hubby and then disappear for good.