Sarah, Duchess of York

Sarah, Duchess of York, born 15 October 1959 is a British charity patron, spokesperson, writer, film producer, television personality and former member of the British Royal Family. She is the former wife of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, to whom she was married from 1986 to 1996. She is often popularly referred to as "Fergie", a common nickname for people named Ferguson.
The Duchess is the younger daughter of Major Ronald Ferguson and Susan Barrantes (née Wright), both now deceased. Her children, Princess Beatrice of York and Princess Eugenie of York, are respectively fifth and sixth in the line of succession to the thrones of 16 independent Commonwealth realm states.


Sarah once described her family as "country gentry with a bit of old money." She is descended from both the Stuart and Tudor houses. On her father's side, Sarah is a descendant of King Charles II of England via two of his illegitimate sons, Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond, and James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth. She has aristocratic ancestry, being the second great-granddaughter of the 6th Duke of Buccleuch, a great-granddaughter of the 8th Viscount Powerscourt and a direct descendant of Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire. Her paternal grandmother was Lady Marian Louisa Montagu Douglas Scott, a first cousin of Lady Alice Christabel Montagu Douglas Scott, who married Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, an uncle of Queen Elizabeth II.


Sarah's marriage is mentioned in the Sue Townsend book The True Confessions of Adrian Albert Mole. It mentions Mr. Mole calling Buckingham Palace and asking for the Duchess, and also him sending her a note to meet him outside the gates of Buckingham Palace to run away with him as she is his soul mate.[66]
In the 1992 Bottom episode "Digger", the Duchess is rejected with great disgust as a potential match for Eddie when visiting a dating service, giving an outcry of "Do you mind?! I'm a respectable man!"
From 1995 onwards, the character of The Girlfriend in Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake is thought to be based on, or has similarities to (in terms of her acceptance by the rest of the Royal Family) the Duchess.
In May 1998, Sarah appeared as herself in the fourth season finale of the television show Friends. She was credited as "Sarah, The Duchess of York".
In May 2000, in the American sitcom Will & Grace episode "My Best Friend's Tush," the characters Grace Adler (Debra Messing) and Karen Walker (Megan Mullally) visit a taco restaurant to find Helena Barnes (Joan Collins). While there, Karen, under her alias Anastasia Beaverhousen, claims to see "The Duchess of York". In shock, Grace asks "Do you think that Weight Watchers knows about this?"
The 2006 title of R&B/Hip Hop singer Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson's debut album, The Dutchess (dutchess is a Middle English spelling of duchess) was a reference to the fact that the two are associated with the same surname. According to various media outlets, the Duchess of York called Fergie after the release of her album and remarked: "Fergie, it's Fergie... Now that you've done this, you have to sing at a concert for my foundation, 'Children in Crisis'. Fergie agreed and committed to charity concerts in London and New York City.
In November 2006, Sarah was honoured for her AIDS campaigning at the New York AIDS Film Festival.
In February 2007, Sarah was named Mother of the Year by the American Cancer Society.


Sarah's full title during her marriage was: Her Royal Highness The Princess Andrew Albert Christian Edward, Duchess of York, Countess of Inverness, Baroness Killyleagh.
Immediately after her divorce she retained the style Her Royal Highness; however on 21 August 1996 letters patent were issued which removed the title from divorced former wives of princes. She remained titled Sarah, Duchess of York in keeping with the standard form of address for former wives of peers. After divorce she was no longer a British princess but remained a duchess.