The famously no-nonsense Princess Royal, Anne, was so incensed by her former sister-in-law Sarah Ferguson's behaviour during a major royal scandal that she reportedly came close to 'throttling' her at the breakfast table, a bombshell new biography has claimed.
The Infamous Scandal That Shook the Monarchy
The dramatic incident unfolded in August 1992, when photographs of Sarah Ferguson, then the Duchess of York, were published showing her holidaying in the South of France with her American 'financial advisor', John Bryan. The images, which caused a media firestorm, depicted Bryan sucking the Duchess's toes as they relaxed in the sun.
According to Andrew Lownie's biography, 'Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York', Sarah had travelled to Balmoral to join Prince Andrew and the rest of the Royal Family after her holiday. It was at the Scottish estate that the scandal broke in the most humiliating way possible for the Duchess.
The Balmoral Confrontation
Lownie's account describes a scene of high tension. Sarah entered the breakfast room to find her royal in-laws already reading the explosive news reports and viewing the compromising pictures. Overwhelmed, she immediately fled the room.
The reaction from Princess Anne was reportedly one of pure fury. A person present during the drama told the Duchess's biographer, Chris Hutchins, that the Princess Royal 'came close to throttling' Sarah. The confrontation did not end there. At dinner that evening, Anne did not hold back, telling Sarah exactly what she thought of her actions.
The book notes that 'There was not one voice raised against Anne' for her outburst. Prince Andrew's initial anger reportedly 'melted into sadness', and he sought solace in reading special reports prepared for the Queen, who did not prevent him from seeing them.
Lasting Repercussions and Unconventional Aftermath
The 1992 toe-sucking scandal proved to be a pivotal moment. Sarah and Prince Andrew formally separated that same year, though their divorce was not finalised until several years later.
Despite the very public humiliation, the couple have maintained an unusually close relationship. For years, they have continued to live together at Royal Lodge near Windsor Castle. However, this arrangement is now changing. With Prince Andrew persuaded to relinquish his lease on the property, he is expected to move to a home on King Charles's Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.
Notably, Sarah Ferguson has not been invited to join him on the vast 20,000-acre estate. Instead, speculation is mounting that she may relocate to Portugal, moving into a property owned by her daughter, Princess Eugenie.
