How Sarah Ferguson’s divorce turned a blueprint for Princess Diana – on what NOT to do
Sarah Ferguson married Prince Andrew on July 23, 1986, in what she described as an ‘extraordinary’ ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
However, their marriage quickly faced challenges due to Andrew’s demanding naval career, which left the couple with just 40 days together each year.
In August 1992, just months after their separation, Sarah found herself at the centre of one of the most infamous royal scandals.
Photographs surfaced of her sunbathing topless in the south of France, while multimillionaire businessman John Bryan kissed and sucked her toes.
The scandal saw her banished from royal life, with Prince Philip refusing to ever speak to her again.
Yet, despite finalising their divorce in 1996, Sarah and Andrew remained close friends. At the time, she was reportedly $4million in debt to Coutts & Co bank.
According to bestselling author Tina Brown, she mishandled the terms of her divorce with ‘the same unerring naivety with which she mishandled everything else’.
Her mistakes became a blueprint for Princess Diana, who was also preparing for divorce from Prince Charles.
Sarah Ferguson married Prince Andrew on July 23, 1986, in what she described as an ‘extraordinary’ ceremony at Westminster Abbey
In The Palace Papers, Ms Brown notes: ‘Diana, who knew she would soon face divorce herself, regarded her sister-in-law’s negotiations as the road map of how to mess it up.’
One of Sarah’s biggest mistakes, Ms Brown explains, was choosing an establishment lawyer – someone from within royal circles – rather than an outsider.
Diana learned from this error, opting instead for Anthony Julius, a lawyer who ‘cared nothing for their approval’.
‘Fergie desperately wanted to claw back a relationship with the senior royals, failing to understand the Windsors’ long-practised art of pulling up the drawbridge irrevocably,’ she writes.
In a past interview, Sarah revealed that when she met Queen Elizabeth to discuss the divorce, Her Majesty asked what she wanted from the settlement.
‘Your friendship, ma’am,’ Sarah recalled replying – an answer that surprised the Queen, as many expected her to demand a substantial payout.
However, Sarah was not interested in battling the Royal Family or appearing overly greedy.
The Queen provided her with a £350,000 settlement, £500,000 towards a house, and a £1.4million trust fund for Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
Their marriage quickly faced challenges due to Andrew’s demanding naval career, which left the couple with just 40 days together each year
Sarah pictured with her two daughters Princess Beatrice (left) and Princess Eugenie (right) on the day of her divorce from Prince Andrew
On the day of her divorce, Sarah took her two daughters to Hickstead Show Ground (pictured with Beatrice)
Sarah, who was not interested in battling the Royal Family, asked Queen Elizabeth for her friendship following the divorce
Sarah and Andrew have remained good friends and still live together at Royal Lodge in Windsor
Although her divorce settlement, estimated to be around £3 million, was dwarfed by Princess Diana’s £17million, Sarah, unlike Diana, didn’t sign a confidentiality agreement
Princess Diana pictured on her first engagement as a divorced woman in August 1996
After losing four stone, Sarah became the face of Weight Watchers in the US, earning £1 million a year
Additionally, she received a modest monthly allowance based on Prince Andrew’s salary as a Royal Navy officer and continued living with her daughters in a suite at Sunninghill Park until it was sold in 2007.
While her total settlement – around £3million – was significantly less than Princess Diana’s £17million, Sarah had one advantage: she never signed a confidentiality agreement.
No longer bound by royal constraints, she pursued commercial deals and media opportunities in the US to tackle her financial struggles.
She worked tirelessly, writing an autobiography, publishing numerous children’s books and landing promotional gigs.
In 1997, she became a brand ambassador for Olympus, posing with a camera on a yacht near the Statue of Liberty.
She also promoted Wedgwood, appearing at over 40 shopping malls in America, and even starred in a 30-second commercial for Ocean Spray cranberry juice.
Her most lucrative venture, however, came from turning years of public fat-shaming -she was cruelly nicknamed the ‘Duchess of Pork’ – into a business opportunity.
After shedding four stone, she signed an 11-year, £1million-a-year deal as the face of Weight Watchers in the US, which allowed her to clear her debts.
