Sarah Ferguson ‘may be negotiating for pension from royal family in exchange for avoiding Oprah Winfrey interview’
A new edition of a controversial royal biography has reignited scrutiny surrounding the former Duke and Duchess of York.
Sarah Ferguson may be attempting to secure a “nice pension” from the Royal Family in exchange for avoiding a bombshell tell-all interview about Jeffrey Epstein.
The former Duchess of York, 66, has widely been reported to be weighing up apparent offers for a big-money TV chat or memoir about the fallout from her and her ex-husband the former Prince Andrew’s joint scandal over their ties to late paedophile Epstein.
Now, according to royal biographer Andrew Lownie – whose updated book on the House of York has reignited scrutiny surrounding the former Duke and Duchess of York – Sarah could be trying to get a lifetime of financial security from the royals in exchange for her silence.
Andrew told the Daily Mirror: “That may be what Fergie’s negotiating at the moment. Can she get a nice pension from them and not have to do an Oprah interview?”
The author also said Andrew and Sarah’s daughters – Princess Beatrice, 37, and Princess Eugenie, 36 – were in the midst of a “schizophrenic” relationship with the royal family.
Andrew, 64, said about the princesses: “The fact that they are still swanning around the Middle East, using their titles... it doesn’t send out the right signals if you want to work your passage back. It’s confusing.”
He added: “I think it’s a very schizophrenic relationship at the moment with the royals and Beatrice and Eugenie.
“One minute they’re very publicly being told they’re not going to be invited to Ascot, then they are going. You get the sense of distancing and I think there’s possibly two schools of thought here. There’s Camilla, William and Kate, who see the reputational damage and want to keep them at arm’s length, and then there’s Charles who is a bit sentimental and feels obligated to be protective.”
Andrew’s biography Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York caused controversy when it was first published last year.
He has now released an updated edition featuring fresh claims about Andrew and Sarah.
They come as King Charles, 77, continues reshaping the monarchy amid ongoing debate over a slimmed-down royal household, while Prince William, 43, and his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, 44, are said to be increasingly conscious of reputational risk surrounding the Yorks.
The Epstein scandal has continued to follow Andrew since his disastrous 2019 Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis, which effectively ended his public royal duties.
Sarah, best known internationally as “Fergie” during her years as a senior royal alongside Andrew, has remained publicly supportive of her former husband despite years of controversy surrounding his friendship with Epstein.
Andrew’s updated biography also includes allegations that Andrew once kicked a dog during a royal shooting trip and behaved in a “foul manner” towards staff.
