14 DAY TRIAL // Over the weekend, News of the World blew the lid on a story around the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson, who attempted to literally sell access to her ex, Prince Andrew, who is a UK Special Representative for Trade and Investment. Moments after the video of her taking bribe went online, she was on board a plane, destination LA, to accept a charity award – and on the phone with her friends to apologize, the Daily Mail informs.
As of now, the Duchess has not presented the Palace or the media with a formal apology. Still, sources close to her keep saying that she’s downright heartbroken about the damage she caused and the hurt she must have inflicted on so many people, especially Andrew, with whom she remains very close and who had no idea about what she was doing behind his back. The Mail claims the same, having spoken to some of Ferguson’s friends, who choose, as usual, not to reveal their name.
“A distraught Duchess of York poured her heart out in an emotional phone call from the United States yesterday, sobbing: ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.’ Speaking to her most trusted confidantes, Sarah Ferguson apologized for the embarrassment she had heaped on her family and friends after being exposed offering access to Prince Andrew for £500,000. Those close to the shamed Duchess say they are worried about her state of mind. Friends describe her as ‘fragile,’ ‘desperate’ and ‘in a very bad place.’ One said: ‘No one is excusing what she has done and it will take those who trusted her a long time to forgive, but essentially she is a decent person and it’s hard not to feel slightly sorry for her. She is clearly at the end of her tether’,” the Mail writes.
While accepting her charity award, the Duchess tried to make light of what had just happened to her in the previous 24 hours, saying only she’d had a very bad day and that she’d realized she hated grownups and loved only children. Though trying to put on a brave face, friends say her situation is more than desperate: on one hand, she has major debts and therefore has to keep working to pay them off; on the other, she’s losing work because of the recently unveiled tape in which she’s seen asking for and receiving bribe for access to Prince Andrew.
“Behind the scenes, however, the Duchess is mortified about the debacle and is worried about the effect it will have on her daughters, Princess Beatrice, 21, and 20-year-old Princess Eugenie. In turn they are said to be ‘desperately concerned’ about their mother. She is also panicking about the effect it will have on her ability to find work in the future – and those fears may be realized. The Mail has learnt that ITV, with whom she recently filmed two documentaries, has axed plans to do a follow-up filming her daily life,” the aforementioned British publication further says.