New allegations about Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, have emerged in an updated biography, claiming she regularly used her daughter Princess Beatrice's credit card to fund luxury purchases. The claims are detailed in Andrew Lownie's book Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, which includes extensive quotes from a former personal assistant.
The assistant described working for Ferguson as a 'chaotic' nightmare, with staff experiencing a 'crushing sense of embarrassment 80% of the time.' According to the book, Ferguson rarely paid for anything herself, expecting friends to entertain her and borrowing security from wealthy acquaintances. Staff were reportedly asked to buy items on their own credit cards and had difficulty getting paid.
The biography alleges that Ferguson's daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, were 'very much under the control of their mother but embarrassed by her behaviour.' It claims Ferguson drew on Beatrice's credit card constantly and paid one psychic in cigarettes. Staff were sworn to secrecy with non-disclosure agreements.
Inside the York household, the lifestyle was allegedly dictated by bizarre demands, including Ferguson insisting on a cream cake being baked for her every day. The book also claims she bought large numbers of her own books to inflate her position on the bestseller list, then handed them out as gifts.
Biographer Andrew Lownie told the Mirror that the toxic culture has rubbed off on Beatrice and Eugenie, claiming 'every social engagement is a business making opportunity.' The book also features testimony that Ferguson stayed in an apartment belonging to Jeffrey Epstein years after publicly distancing herself from him.
