Sarah Ferguson, the former wife of Prince Andrew, has issued an apology after a newspaper sting recorded her promising to arrange access to the duke in return for £500,000. The Duchess of York was filmed by an undercover reporter from the News of the World, who posed as a foreign businessman, during a meeting at a Mayfair apartment last Tuesday.
In the footage, the duchess is seen telling the reporter that the payment would open doors to the prince, who serves as a quasi-official British trade envoy. She claimed that Prince Andrew had been told of the meeting in advance and had suggested the figure she should demand, but she made clear that he would not benefit financially from it. The Duke of York has categorically denied any knowledge of the meeting.
In a statement released tonight, the duchess said she was 'devastated by the situation' and expressed regret for her actions. She acknowledged that her financial situation was under stress but said that was no excuse for a 'serious lapse in judgment'. She confirmed that the duke was not aware or involved in any of the discussions. Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
The duchess, who married Prince Andrew in 1986 and divorced him ten years later, has a history of embarrassing incidents and has faced financial difficulties for some time. Her divorce settlement was reported to be £15,000 a year, and she has previously cleared debts of over £1m through her work with Weight Watchers and writing children's books. Her recent US business activities failed, leaving debts to American tax authorities.
This is not the first time a member of the royal family has been caught out by the same undercover reporter, known as the 'fake sheik'. In 2001, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, was filmed in a similar sting while discussing potential clients for her public relations firm.
