But Sarah Ferguson – invariably known as Fergie – has survived all that. Her fallibility has been part of her likeability. She is good with people, with an outgoing friendliness and sense of fun, which is why charities have previously wanted her as an ally.
Like that famously terrible It’s a Royal Knockout game show from 1987, she seemed to have a knack of being unceremoniously knocked off life’s ladders but still being able to climb back up again.
She didn’t get an invitation to the coronation of her ex-brother-in-law, but didn’t moan about it. Then she appeared to be back in the fold, when in 2023 she was invited for a royal Christmas at Sandringham, her first time there in decades.
The following Christmas there was more royal approval for her, with grateful murmurings from the Palace that she had helped persuade Prince Andrew to stay away from family events, in the wake of his involvement in a Chinese spy scandal.
She had also gained public respect for her energetic efforts encouraging women to get checks, after her own breast cancer diagnosis and operation.
But now this latest problem is causing profound problems. There couldn’t be a more toxic connection than with Epstein and it is going to be particularly difficult for her when so much of her charity work was associated with children.
As a children’s author, there must be a risk her brand is going to be damaged by the Epstein link.
The whole Epstein story is like a spreading oil spill, and both the duke and duchess of York must be wondering might appear next.
There have already been claims that the King and the Royal Family will exclude the duchess from even more events.
But Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson are already not allowed to attend official royal events – and there doesn’t seem to be any suggestion they would be barred from family gatherings, such as funerals or church services.
Both were there as mourners at Westminster Cathedral for last week’s funeral of the Duchess of Kent.
What seems to be one certainty is that Prince Andrew and Sarah will stay together, living in some style in Royal Lodge, Prince Andrew’s Windsor home, no longer married, but holding hands as they sink in the reputational quicksand.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.bbc.co.uk ’
