A large part of England's population has been left speechless upon learning the latest and unexpected news that has leaked about Sarah Ferguson, King Charles III's sister-in-law. This information is directly related to her controversial lifestyle.
As recounted in a new biography that reveals her lifestyle full of "excesses," Sarah accumulated debts amounting to hundreds of thousands of pounds. This amount of money, according to this publication, was settled by Queen Elizabeth II.
This book confirms that, while she was married to Prince Andrew, Sarah Ferguson rarely worried about paying bills. In fact, she reportedly spent uncontrollably on staff, flowers, parties, vacations, and other luxuries.
The marriage of the Dukes of York lasted ten years (1986-1996). During that time, she needed financial help on several occasions. This detail has now been revealed by historian Andrew Lownie.
This well-known British author has stated that one of the most significant financial rescues took place in April 1994. At that time, Coutts bank demanded that King Charles III's sister-in-law pay the £500,000 she owed within two weeks.
It was then that Queen Elizabeth II had no choice but to step in to settle Sarah Ferguson's debt, thus preventing the situation from becoming a public scandal.
A well-known historian draws a revealing profile of Sarah Ferguson, King Charles III's sister-in-law
In the biography, The Rise and Fall of the Yorks, several details are revealed about the "hedonistic life, controversial friendships, and secret efforts to make money" of the Dukes.
Andrew Lownie bases his claims on the four years he has spent researching and on the numerous interviews he has conducted. According to the author, Sarah Ferguson's life as a member of the Royal Family stood out for being "marked by ambition and financial recklessness."
Meanwhile, the book states that King Charles III's sister-in-law spent significant sums of money on private villas, employees, and security measures for her daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie:
"The young and effervescent redhead was initially seen as a breath of fresh air when she married him in 1986. But her exploitation of her royal status to make money has seen her, along with her ex-husband, become a greatly diminished figure."
In 1994, Sarah Ferguson's debts already exceeded £3.7 million, despite having participated in various businesses. These projects failed, although they were usually backed by the British Crown.
"She needed the bank's approval to pay even modest checks. But even then, according to a member of her staff, she always believed there would be a deal just around the corner that would solve all her problems," Lownie states in his book.
In addition, the author has confirmed that King Charles III's sister-in-law was known for accumulating bills at stores like Harrods without ever paying them. "She found ways to get around her financial limitations," he notes.
In fact, Mohamed Al-Fayed, owner of the famous establishment, never pressured Sarah Ferguson to settle her debts. She took advantage of this situation to replicate it elsewhere: "These accounts are never paid, for some reason. Stores don't complain because of who she is, or they never used to."
The book also recounts how close friends lent Sarah Ferguson large sums, although they rarely got their money back. One of them, who gave her £100,000 for a vacation in the south of France, only received £5,000 in return.
Among the most striking expenses is the outlay of £14,000 on wine in just one month. Lownie also mentions luxury trips. In fact, on each of these getaways, she stayed in a luxury hotel, where the cheapest room cost £330 per night.