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Duchess of York's Act of Disgrace

By Geoff Cummings

Most of us by now have probably gotten used to hearing about those who really ought to know better being caught out in corruption scandals. It goes on with politicians, businessmen, even religious leaders. Yet, the case of Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, takes some beating.

Caught on camera in a newspaper sting the Duchess was seen to offer an undercover reporter, posing as a businessman, access to her ex-husband, Prince Andrew. Andrew is influential in business circles in some kind of ambassadorial role. The price for this 'introduction' was £500,000, of which $40,000 (£25,000) was paid upfront there and then. The Duchess was seen to carry the money in a small case. There's some debate over whether Prince Andrew knew anything of what was going on, the Duchess indicating at one stage he did, another time in the conversation she says he didn't.

Now, let's be honest. From time to time we all feel the financial pinch. The worldwide recession has hit hard, and I'm sure some extra money would come in handy for us all. But, bribery and corruption? A clandestine meeting in a hotel room? I wonder if the newspaper just came up with the idea of testing Sarah Ferguson out, or whether they had a good idea she'd go for it? Has she done this kind of thing before? Are the police interested in pursuing the matter? I wonder what her bank account(s) would reveal?

Whether what she attempted to do was illegal or not, her expressions of regret sound hollow. I suspect her regret was in being caught out, not in her actions.

If the Duchess of York is so financially insecure, why then does she need to fly everywhere first class? Why does she have an entourage including a dresser and several personal assistants? She is an ex-royal. She even lives - no doubt rent free - at Andrew's home, Royal Lodge at Windsor, despite no longer being married to him.

She receives £15,000 a year under the divorce settlement, which whilst is relatively modest some people would manage on, and be quite glad of. As one reporter aptly pointed out when speaking about her lavish lifestyle, why doesn't she do what everyone else have to do if they need money - go out and get a job? It seems once a parasite, always a parasite.

Contributor's Note

I'm not pro-royal, nor anti-royal, I just don't like to see corruption. And it's those with money and position who so often are the most corrupt in society, no doubt because they have more to "offer."

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Fergie really got caught out here BUT she was doing no more than all the other 'names' are doing.

What is the difference between saying "I will introduce you to my ex-husband for half a million" and "I will let you use my name and title on your letterhead for half a million?

Look around at the massive salaries paid out to the senior officers of charities and then look at how many of those salaries are really only there to ensure that Sir Snottington-Puke enjoys his sinecure and the massive kudos and payments that renting your name and title to a charity seems to entitle you to.

There is no reason to agrandise Fergie but she will dine out on this little faux pas for years to come. Such is the morality of the upper classes.

True, a lot of them are "at it" I'm sure. It'll all get quickly glossed over for what some will call the greater good. Somehow though those kind of clandestine hotel meetings always seem so seedy, which in truth is what they are.

Both Mark Twain and Arthur Conan Doyle supposedly sent this telegram to a dozen prominent men, all of whom packed up and left town immediately.

biblefreeorg May 26, 2010 04:21

Fergie may have pushed her luck too far with this one. What she did was tacky. The suggestion that "other people are doing it" doesn't make it less tacky.

And now the Queen herself would like a few more millions to help her get by. Times are hard!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1282795/Queen-wants-pay-rise-Palace-goes-6milli...

I would be so embarrassed I would hide myself away in hole for at least 10 years I think. I was actually rather surprised by this, I thought she was a bit too "down to earth" to stoop this low.

mulberry Jun 28, 2010 13:03

While I'm a staunch anti-royalist, the divorce settlement in which...

"She receives £15,000 a year...which...is relatively modest..."

was farcical, insulting and downright stupid. What if Fergie had done a porn movie to raise some quick cash? Where would the royal family be then?

Andrew Goulding Aug 7, 2010 02:26

£15,000 a year divorce settlement? Really?

I didn't think that there was anybody who would really believe that this figure was imposed. That was the settlement against her husband who is, after all, a serving, naval officer and who earns a great deal less than Fergie does. It is also the settlement to which Fergie more than willingly agreed.

Fergie retained her title which, of course, has enabled her to boost her earnings enormously (even if no longer 'royal').

This much vaunted settlement figure would not buy Fergie one summer outfit for one garden party however, she certainly knew on which side her bread was buttered and continued to share a palatial home at Sunninghill.

Despite her well publicised associations with far too many men during the marriage, the Duke of York has maintained a deep friendship with Fergie and constant involvement with their children.

I suspect the £15,000 a year is pocket money for her. As I mentioned "why then does she need to fly everywhere first class? Why does she have an entourage including a dresser and several personal assistants? She is an ex-royal. She even lives - no doubt rent free - at Andrew's home, Royal Lodge at Windsor, despite no longer being married to him." People like that are an insult to the genuinely hard up who struggle to buy food and clothing for their families, not whether they can still afford to fly 1st class.

Even before marrying into the royal family she knew how to get exactly what she wanted, whenever she wanted it.

Travelling first class with an entourage is all about style and image. The better the image, the more she can charge for simply making an appearance. No doubt if she had to pay her own way there would be economies but while there are people to pay the tab - why should Fergie care?

As for going out and getting a job, that is exactly what she has done. She is on many charity boards, is a successful author and is in great demand as an animated ornament at social gatherings. Her after dinner speaking rates are phenomenal.

"She is on many charity boards, is a successful author and is in great demand as an animated ornament at social gatherings. Her after dinner speaking rates are phenomenal." Clearly she's not THAT successful otherwise she wouldn't be resorting to sleaze. Or, is that just down to pure greed?

theoldcoot Aug 8, 2010 07:59

The latest news that Fergie's debts now exceed £2,000,000 ($3,189,000) and that she will have to seek the protection of voluntary bankruptcy should be no surprise to anybody.

It seems that she ran out of financial support before discovering that income should not be exceeded by expenditure.

According to one newspaper report "In a sign of her increasingly desperate predicament, she cannot even afford to repair the £130,000 Bentley lying idle in her garage, it was claimed." Poor dear, my heart breaks for her (not!).

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