WINDSOR, ENGLAND – MARCH 31: Sarah Ferguson attends the Easter Mattins Service at Windsor Castle on March 31, 2024 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Antony Jones/Getty Images) (Image: Getty Images)
A school report from decades ago provides an intriguing glimpse into the early personality of Sarah Ferguson, describing the 12-year-old’s work and behaviour as “erratic.” Before she ascended to the title of Duchess of York and became a staple in royal news, Sarah was brought up in considerable luxury. The 66-year-old enjoyed a privileged upbringing, complete with ponies, ski holidays and domestic staff.
Her social circle mirrored her family’s standing, and she easily mingled with well-connected children — including the young royals, one of whom she would later wed. Her father’s career also brought the family close to the monarchy. He served as a polo manager for the then Prince Charles and even rode as part of the sovereign’s escort alongside Elizabeth II on one occasion.
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Sarah Ferguson (Image: UK Press via Getty Images)
According to The Times, the late Queen had to gently remind him of etiquette during one event. “It’s me they’ve come to see,” she informed him, “not you.”
At boarding school, the young Ferguson — already dubbed “Fergie” — earned a reputation for being lively and outgoing. The Times noted that she was known for her sporting enthusiasm and her easy popularity among peers.
However, there were indications that her boundless energy wasn’t always channelled productively.
A 1972 report from Hurst Lodge School in Ascot, penned when she was merely 12 years old, seemed to encapsulate both her qualities and her difficulties with remarkable precision: “Although enthusiastic and anxious to please… Sarah has not yet learned to channel her energies in the right direction. Both work and behaviour are erratic and she needs to exercise greater control over both.”
Sarah Ferguson and Andrew (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
By comparison, her future spouse, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was establishing his own standing at Gordonstoun, where fellow students reportedly regarded him as “a wally and a t****r.”
A results document, allegedly uncovered in 2024, revealed that Sarah departed school in 1976, aged 16, with two O-levels, including an A in spoken English and a C in art. She achieved Ds in English language, English literature and biology, which were deemed failing grades at the time.
She also failed French and geography.
She subsequently completed a nine-month secretarial course, finishing bottom of her class, before attending Queen’s Secretarial College in London to study shorthand, typing and book-keeping.
Her circumstances transformed dramatically in 1986 when she wed Prince Andrew, securing her position within the royal family. Decades on, both figures remain subject to considerable scrutiny.
Last Thursday, the ex-prince was taken into custody on suspicion of misconduct in public office. This follows accusations that he disclosed confidential information to convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as the UK’s trade envoy.
Andrew has refuted any impropriety concerning his association with Epstein, although he has yet to respond specifically to the latest allegations.