There’s a ‘hypocrisy at the heart of the House of Windsor,’ says former newspaper editor Simon Kelner, as he describes a meeting with Sarah Ferguson where she was trying to ‘monetise being a royal’
14:54, 18 Feb 2026Updated 15:30, 18 Feb 2026
Sarah Ferguson showed her one big problem at a dinner, a newspaper editor claimed (Image: PA)
A newspaper editor who had dinner with Sarah Ferguson claims the former Duchess of York showed her one big problem with what she said at the event.
Simon Kelner revealed details of a private dinner he had with the former Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson.
Ferguson’s notorious spending meant that since her divorce in 1996, she has been constant need of highly-paid work to finance her lifestyle. It was with work in mind that Kelner, then editor of the Independent, met with her at the Hilton Hotel in 2000.
Ferguson, at the time earning £1million a year from Weight Watchers, spoke to him at length about her weight-loss régime. But, Kelner added, she “exhibited very little of what you might call a world-view.”
Writing in the i newspaper, he explains: “She seemed to think that it was enough just to be herself, and here of course lies the problem for the Royal Family.
“Exposure of how Andrew and Ferguson attempted to monetise being a royal, and were, to a large extent, indulged while doing so, shows a hypocrisy at the heart of the House of Windsor.
Despite divorcing over 30 years ago, Ferguson and Mountbatten-Windsor remain close (Image: UK Press via Getty Images)
Kelner says Sarah and Andrew began to occupy “that limbo land between celebrity and royalty.” Moving in social circles where most of their friends were far wealthier than themselves, the then-Duke and Duchess of York spent much time reportedly spending beyond their means.
In 2010, Ferguson’s debts were reportedly in the region of £6m. Kelner comments: “How is it even possible to get that much in debt without people calling in the men in white coats?”
He adds that it seems incredible that no-one within the Royal Household noticed what was going on, and had the sense to “take her into protective custody.”
He asks: “Did all those around her, and particularly her former husband, think that, as a member of the extended Royal Family, she was protected, like they are, from the financial exigencies of the real world?”
Sarah Ferguson’s life has been characterised by wild spending(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Both Andrew and Sarah have come under fire for their connections to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. They deny any wrongdoing.
The former Duchess of York announced in 2011 that she had severed all contact with Epstein. However, a leaked email sent after her public disavowal showed her apologising to Epstein and referring to him as “a steadfast, generous and supreme friend to me and my family.” She now says that the email was sent under pressure.
Mountbatten-Windsor and Ferguson’s daughters – Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie – came under scrutiny themselves over the family’s association with the disgraced financier. The two princesses kept their royal titles when their parents had theirs removed last year.
But after the latest batch of Epstein documents were released in January, it emerged that the young royals visited the late convicted paedophile at his home in Miami, Florida. The sisters, who were 19 and 20 years old at the time, visited Epstein’s home with their mother in July 2009 to have lunch together.
The former Duchess of York is currently believed to be in the United Arab Emirates(Image: UK Press via Getty Images)
According to newly-released email documents, the visit took place just five days after Epstein was released from prison for child sex crimes. The convicted paedophile had served 12 months for soliciting a child for prostitution and was placed under house arrest at the time of the visit.
“The smell of misconduct and duplicity will not go away any time soon,” Kelner writes. “And until we are granted sight of the full, unexpurgated details of Andrew’s activities while a trade envoy, every day could get worse for the Royal Family.”
The Mirror has contacted Sarah Ferguson’s representatives for comment.