Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has brought so much disgrace to the royal family that the damage to the monarchy could be irreparable. But it’s his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, who could actually bring down the royals if she writes a tell-all memoir, fear many courtiers. There’s a great deal of nervousness about what Fergie will do now that she has found herself cast adrift from her in-laws for once and for all. She has no home, her income is rapidly drying up and her reputation has been totally trashed, thanks to her friendship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The recent release of emails in which she joked about marrying him and said she thought of him as a brother shows just how close she was to the late financier. The former Duchess of York, 66, could make millions from a book that not only details her personal relationship with Epstein, but also reveals sensitive information about the royal family. There have been rumours about her writing an explosive memoir for some time and because she’s hit rock bottom, the chances of her actually doing it have skyrocketed.
Media commentator Amanda Platell believes Fergie is a “very dangerous woman” because she’s desperate.
A threat to the throne
“The biggest threat to the monarchy is surely that a penniless, homeless Fergie is scheming to spill her royal sob story.”
The Firm is already in a precarious position because of the Epstein scandal. The fact that it took until late last year for Andrew, 66, to face serious repercussions – the loss of his title and his home, Royal Lodge – has not reflected well on the King, 77, or his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
If more unfavourable details emerge about the family, it could massively impact the monarchy and even though Fergie hasn’t been part of the royal inner circle for many years, she must still know a lot about goings-on behind palace doors thanks to her relationships with Andrew and their daughters, Princesses Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35.
“Why, she must be thinking, shouldn’t she ‘do a Harry’ and expose the secrets of the family she’s known for decades?” says Amanda, referring to Prince Harry’s bombshell memoir Spare.
“Publishers and streaming giants would pay a king’s ransom for her story.”
Her most explosive chapter yet
Fergie has previously written two autobiographies, in 1996 and 2011. But to make the kind of money that would guarantee financial security for the rest of her life, a new book would need to delve deeper into topics, like the demise of her marriage to Andrew and her falling out with former close pal Princess Diana, as well as spill the beans on other royal dirty secrets.
Boxes of Fergie’s personal diaries were removed from Royal Lodge shortly before she moved out, sparking concern that she’s been gathering background information.
Growing royal anxiety
“There is anxiety that these notebooks could form the backbone of a highly lucrative tell-all,” says a source.
“There’s a feeling that she is providing an escape route, financially and reputationally. People around her are worried she believes a memoir is her last remaining leverage. “While a book would solve her financial problems, she feels it would also give her the chance to correct falsehoods that have been reported about her.”
Many insiders believe an explosive memoir written by Fergie could backfire badly on her, not only ending any contact with the royals but also ruining any goodwill the public may have towards her.
Critics speak out
“I cannot believe she would be so foolish as to sell a book,” says royal biographer Jennie Bond.
“But then she has never ceased to amaze me with her lust for money.”
There’s hope among many palace staff that Fergie will ditch the idea of a memoir because of the effect it would have on her daughters. Beatrice and Eugenie have already been dragged through the mud thanks to references to them in the Epstein files.
A palace source says, “This would be devastating for her girls, who are still members of the royal fold and get invited to events. They will be eager for her to keep quiet.”
Legal threats loom
The insider says senior royals have warned Fergie “not to go rogue as it could unleash a torrent of legal action over any claims she makes in the book”.
There’s speculation the family may be so worried about what she could say that they’d offer her money not to write a book.
“If she agrees to shut up, her life could be secretly funded for the rest of her days, like Andrew,” suggests the source. “The last thing the royals need is another tell-all book like Harry’s.”
