Buckingham Palace insiders have broken their silence with startling revelations about Sarah Ferguson's conduct during her time as a working royal, painting a picture of a demanding and often difficult Duchess of York.
According to multiple former staff members who served during the 1990s, Fergie's behaviour created a "toxic atmosphere" within palace walls, with one aide describing the environment as "utterly miserable" for those tasked with serving her.
The Morning Ritual That Caused Outrage
One of the most shocking claims involves Ferguson's unusual breakfast demands. Staff reveal they were required to prepare a full cooked breakfast each morning, only for the Duchess to systematically destroy the meal by mashing it together before eating barely any of it.
"She'd order this beautiful breakfast - bacon, eggs, sausages, tomatoes - then mash it all into a disgusting pulp with her hands," one former staff member recounted. "She'd eat a tiny bit and leave the rest. It felt like a power play, a demonstration of her status."
A Pattern of Demanding Behaviour
The allegations extend far beyond breakfast peculiarities. Multiple sources describe:
- Last-minute demands that kept staff working late into the night
- Frequent emotional outbursts and unpredictable mood swings
- Alleged bullying behaviour toward junior staff members
- Creating an atmosphere of "walking on eggshells" among palace employees
One former aide expressed particular concern about how Ferguson treated younger staff, suggesting the behaviour would be "completely unacceptable" by today's standards.
The Royal Divide
Interestingly, staff noted a stark contrast between Ferguson's treatment of palace employees and how other senior royals conducted themselves. While the Duchess of York allegedly created tension and anxiety, other members of the Royal Family were described as respectful and appreciative of staff efforts.
This divide became particularly apparent during joint engagements or when staff were rotated between different royal households.
Legacy of the York Era
These revelations come as historians and royal commentators reassess the impact of Sarah Ferguson's time within the Royal Family. The allegations suggest that behind the public persona of the fun-loving, unconventional royal lay a much more complicated relationship with palace protocols and personnel.
The testimony from former staff members provides new context for understanding why Ferguson never fully integrated into the royal establishment and why her relationship with the institution remains complicated decades later.
