The Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, has faced a significant demotion within her own charitable organisation, a move that underscores the fallout from her recent financial and personal controversies.
Official documents reveal that Ferguson has been formally removed as a director of the Sarah Ferguson Foundation, a trust she established to support various causes. She has been relegated to the lesser role of 'Member', stripping her of direct managerial control over the charity's operations and finances.
Financial Strain and Public Scrutiny
This dramatic shift comes amid reports of severe financial pressure on the Duchess. It is understood that she has been 'virtually bankrupt' and struggling to maintain her lifestyle. The charity itself has faced difficulties, with accounts showing it held just £15,000 in reserves at one point.
The situation was exacerbated by a major scandal in 2010, where Ferguson was caught in a newspaper sting offering access to her former husband, Prince Andrew, for a sum of £500,000. This incident caused irreparable damage to her reputation and her standing within charitable circles.
A Life of Ups and Downs
Ferguson's life since her divorce from Prince Andrew has been a public rollercoaster of business ventures, debt, and attempts to rebuild her image. Despite authoring children's books and engaging in public speaking, financial stability has remained elusive.
Her reduced role in the foundation that bears her name marks a symbolic low, indicating a loss of trust and influence even over the philanthropic endeavours she once championed. The charity is now under the control of other directors, who will steer its future course.
A spokesperson for the Duchess declined to comment on the specific changes, but sources close to her suggest she remains committed to the foundation's charitable goals, albeit from a new, more distant position.
