Sarah Ferguson reportedly offered seven-figure deal for explosive autobiography

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has reportedly been offered multiple seven-figure deals to write an explosive autobiography. The claim was discussed after a newspaper front page promoted the story under the headline 'Fergie's squeaky bum time for royals'. The reports suggest she has received more than one seven-figure offer, though no publisher or exact sum has been confirmed.

The proposed book would land while the royal family is already dealing with damaging books about its past. Earl Spencer's memoir has been described as vicious, and Andrew Lownie's book about Prince Andrew's finances has been called very damaging. That book is said to examine how much money Andrew effectively took from the country during his time as a trade envoy.

Much of the concern centres on Ferguson's long association with Prince Andrew. She was married to him and continued to live with him after their divorce. The discussion noted that she had also been linked to Jeffrey Epstein after his paedophilia conviction. Concerns were raised that Ferguson, who is said to need money and to have struggled to handle it, could use a memoir as leverage. One suggestion was that the offer is a shot across the bow to tell the palace to look after her or face further revelations.

The coverage also raised broader questions about the monarchy. It was claimed that the late Queen had a blind spot about Andrew and that courtiers and the royal household knew about his conduct for years without acting. There was criticism that King Charles is less willing than before to manage people through financial arrangements, houses or other privileges. That, the discussion suggested, weakens the palace's control over people who might otherwise stay silent.

Ferguson's commercial history was mentioned as context. She was dropped by her publishers while writing the Budgie the Helicopter children's books, and she has since been seen as short of money. The timing of a tell-all was presented as especially risky because the public is grappling with the cost of living and is less tolerant of royal scandal. The reported deal has added to a sense of crisis around the monarchy, with the suggestion that Ferguson may go ahead with the book regardless of pressure from the palace.