Royal commentator Richard Eden has highlighted what he calls a ‘pitiful comparison’ between two photographs of the Duchess of York – one from her Budgie the Helicopter launch and another from her 50th birthday in 2009
After years of failed business endeavours involving Sarah Ferguson, Royal commentator Richard Eden believes two photographs perfectly encapsulate the Duchess of York’s dramatic ascent and decline.
Speaking on the Palace Confidential podcast, Eden pointed to what he described as “an obvious and frankly pitiful comparison” between a jubilant image of Ferguson crouching beside a model of her children’s character Budgie the Helicopter outside Bloomingdale’s in New York, and a subsequent photograph from her 50th birthday in 2009, where she looked notably deflated.
He compared the earlier moment to the perpetually hopeful Del Boy from the sitcom Only Fools and Horses, suggesting the Budgie launch brought to mind “Del Boy all gassed up for his next infallible jackpot scheme.”
In stark contrast, the later image reminded him of the classic end-of-episode scene when “it suddenly hits Del Boy like a ton of bricks that the roof just fell in on his latest screwball venture.”
Despite repeated financial disappointments, Ferguson has consistently recovered from setbacks. Royal biographer Andrew Lownie, author of Entitled, which scrutinises Ferguson and her ex-husband Andrew, told the Express: “She’s a tough nut, and she’ll be back.”, reports the Mirror.
Eden, however, suspects her most recent scandal could prove final, calling it “surely the last time.”
This comes after the revelation of emails Ferguson dispatched to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein between 2009 and 2011. In the correspondence, she sought financial assistance, half-jokingly proposed marriage, and portrayed herself as “very traumatised and alone.”
Her spokespersons have maintained she was “taken in” by Epstein, condemned him once the full scope of his offences emerged, and that the emails were penned on guidance to appease him following alleged intimidation.
However, detractors highlight the repeated references to her daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, as indicating an ongoing relationship with Epstein even following his conviction.
Financial dependence seems to have played a crucial role. In conversation with the Daily Telegraph, Ferguson acknowledged that Epstein settled £15,000 of her outstanding debts, whilst stressing: “Whenever I can I will repay the money and will have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again.”
Eden contends that Ferguson’s enduring monetary difficulties led to her successive controversies. “She seemed to have spent her life seeking for the easy way to easy money, followed by delivering easy excuses when everything fell apart,” he said.
Ferguson has historically enjoyed a public perception of having a “heart of gold” behind her sometimes awkward demeanour.
However, Eden remains doubtful. “Was Sarah Ferguson the Del Boy Duchess, a Wheeler dealer with a heart of gold?” he asks, before responding candidly: “Short answer, no, she wasn’t.”
He continues: “Would someone with a ‘heart of gold’ associate with, apologise to, or even consider bringing their teenage daughter to meet a convicted sex offender? Hell no. And the consequences of that profound failing in the ex-duchess have ultimately come home to roost for what is surely the last time.”
Eden cautions that any future rehabilitation would say more about those who pardoned her than Ferguson herself. “If somehow Sarah Ferguson was to manage to make one final miraculous comeback, that one will be on us, not her.”
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