Editing Sarah, Duchess of York (section)

==Personal life after divorce==
[[File:Sarah, Duchess of York 1997.jpg|thumb|upright|Sarah at a 1997 Weight Watchers event]]
After the divorce, the British tabloids continued to cover Sarah's lifestyle. In 1995, a baggage handler at [[John F. Kennedy International Airport]] in New York City pleaded guilty to stealing her $382,000 diamond necklace and bracelet.<ref>{{Cite web|date=6 December 1995|title=Jewels Stolen From Duchess of York|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-12-06-mn-10878-story.html|access-date=20 November 2019|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=27 March 1996|title=Man Pleads Guilty in Theft of Duchess of York's Diamonds|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/27/nyregion/man-pleads-guilty-in-theft-of-duchess-of-york-s-diamonds.html|access-date=20 November 2019|work=The New York Times|url-access=limited}}</ref> Sarah's commercial interests have included an eleven-year endorsement with [[WW International|Weight Watchers]] and product development and promotion with [[Wedgwood]] and [[Avon Products|Avon]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York|url=http://www.themullanyfund.org/about/sarah-ferguson-patron|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081224095815/http://www.themullanyfund.org/about/sarah-ferguson-patron|archive-date=24 December 2008|access-date=8 January 2017|publisher=The Mullany Fund}}</ref>

Until 2004, the Duke of York and his former wife shared the family's home, [[Sunninghill Park]] in Berkshire.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Bates|first=Stephen|date=1 March 2009|title=From royal fairytale to crumbling eyesore: the mystery of Prince Andrew's old home|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2009/mar/01/sunninghill-park-prince-andrew|access-date=4 August 2018}}</ref> That year, the Duke moved to the refurbished [[Royal Lodge]] in [[Windsor Great Park]], previously the home of his grandmother, [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother]], who resided there until her death in 2002. In 2007, Sarah rented Dolphin House in [[Englefield Green]], less than a mile from Royal Lodge;<ref>{{Cite web|last=Borland|first=Sophie|date=30 January 2008|title=Scented candle starts fire at Fergie's home|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1576995/Scented-candle-starts-fire-at-Fergies-home.html|access-date=2021-09-21|website=The Telegraph|url-access=subscription}}</ref> a fire at Dolphin House in 2008<ref>{{Cite web|date=30 January 2008|title=Bathroom blaze in Royal household|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/surrey/7217267.stm|access-date=4 August 2018|publisher=BBC}}</ref> caused her to vacate the premises and move into Royal Lodge with her former husband.<ref>{{Cite web|date=25 August 2013|title=Fergie and Andrew will definitely remarry, friends say|url=https://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/fergie-and-andrew-will-definitely-remarry-friends-say-29525971.html|access-date=21 September 2021|work=Irish Independent|via=Telegraph}}</ref>

In 2015, Sarah was reported to have moved out of Royal Lodge and assumed residence in [[Verbier]], Switzerland, where she and the Duke of York owned a £13&nbsp;million [[chalet]].<ref name="Chalet-Lodge">{{Cite news|date=4 August 2015|title=Sarah Ferguson moves to £13 million Alpine home|newspaper=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/11781899/Sarah-Ferguson-moves-to-13-million-Alpine-home.html|access-date=4 August 2018|url-access=subscription}}</ref> She applied for Swiss residency in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Finnigan|first=Lexi|date=11 February 2016|title=Sarah Ferguson applies for Swiss residency after moving to her £13m ski chalet|newspaper=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/12153098/Sarah-Ferguson-applies-for-Swiss-citizenship-after-moving-to-her-13m-ski-chalet.html|access-date=4 August 2018|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Sarah also maintains a rented apartment in [[Eaton Square]] in London and a room at Royal Lodge.<ref name="Chalet-Lodge" /><ref>{{Cite news|last=Hyde|first=Marina|date=1 April 2016|title=Duchess Fergie's lifestyle makes her app-y|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/lostinshowbiz/2016/apr/01/duchess-fergie-lifestyle-makes-her-app-y|access-date=4 August 2018}}</ref>

As one of the victims of the [[News International phone hacking scandal]] which came into public notice in 2006, Sarah received an undisclosed amount in an out-of-court settlement.<ref>{{cite web |date=27 April 2022 |title=UK Phone Hacking Scandal Fast Facts |url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/10/24/world/europe/uk-phone-hacking-scandal-fast-facts/index.html |accessdate=26 April 2023 |work=CNN}}</ref> In April 2016, she was named in the [[Panama Papers]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=6 April 2016|title=From Kubrick to Cowell: Panama Papers expose offshore dealings of the stars|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2016/apr/06/panama-papers-reveal-offshore-dealings-stars}}</ref>

===Debt problems===
In the mid-1990s, Sarah reportedly had a £4.2&nbsp;million deficit in her bank account which she paid off by going on "a four-year earning spree" in the United States.<ref name="settlement" /><ref name="divorced" />

In 2006, Sarah used the money she had earned from her career as a film producer and writer to found Hartmoor LLC in the US.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dorning|first=Ann-Marie|date=30 September 2009|title=Sarah Ferguson: Indebted Duchess Comes Clean|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/sarah-ferguson-duchess-debt/story?id=8925887|access-date=6 December 2020|publisher=ABC News}}</ref> A lifestyle company, it was set to help with her "career in publishing, media and public speaking".<ref name="Telegraph-debts">{{Cite web|last1=Mendick|first1=Robert|last2=Doran|first2=James|date=3 October 2009|title=Revealed: Duchess of York's US firm collapses with $1m debts|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/6257686/Revealed-Duchess-of-Yorks-US-firm-collapses-with-1m-debts.html|access-date=6 December 2020|work=The Telegraph|url-access=subscription}}</ref> The company collapsed in 2009, leaving Sarah with a debt of £630,000.<ref name="Telegraph-debts" /> Later in the same year, it was revealed that she was in a financial dispute with three firms and in September she was summoned "to court in the UK for unpaid bills".<ref name="Telegraph-debts" /> It was reported in August 2010 that Sarah might declare voluntary bankruptcy with debts of £5&nbsp;million,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Alderson|first=Andrew|date=7 August 2010|title=The Duchess of York faces bankruptcy over her £5m debts|work=The Sunday Telegraph|location=UK|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/7932195/The-Duchess-of-York-faces-bankruptcy-over-her-5m-debts.html|url-status=dead|access-date=8 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100812030849/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/7932195/The-Duchess-of-York-faces-bankruptcy-over-her-5m-debts.html|archive-date=12 August 2010|url-access=subscription}}</ref> though other sources had suggested she owed about £2&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Percival|first=Jenny|date=8 August 2010|title=Sarah Ferguson faces bankruptcy after running up debts of millions|work=The Guardian|location=UK|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/aug/08/sarah-ferguson-bankrupt-debts-millions|access-date=24 May 2010}}</ref>

In March 2011, it was reported that [[Jeffrey Epstein]] had helped Sarah avoid bankruptcy by paying off some of her debts. The payments were reportedly made after intervention from the Duke of York.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rayner|first=Gordon|date=6 March 2011|title=Duke of York 'appealed to Jeffrey Epstein to help Duchess pay debt'|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/8365020/Duke-of-York-appealed-to-Jeffrey-Epstein-to-help-Duchess-pay-debt.html|url-access=subscription}}</ref> She later admitted getting money from Epstein and called it a "gigantic error".<ref>{{Cite web|date=21 July 2011|title=Prince Andrew: Envoy career plagued with controversy|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-12663378|access-date=5 March 2021|publisher=BBC}}</ref> In the summer of 2011, ''[[Finding Sarah]]'' aired on the OWN network. One episode of the U.S.-filmed reality series depicted Sarah meeting with [[Suze Orman]], the internationally known financial advisor, receiving from Orman a strict lecture and practical advice on how to resolve her financial issues.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Stanley|first=Alessandra|date=9 June 2011|title=You Can Feel Her Pain|newspaper=The New York Times|url=http://tv.nytimes.com/2011/06/10/arts/television/finding-sarah-with-sarah-ferguson-on-own-review.html|access-date=30 September 2013|url-access=limited}}</ref> Juan Alessi, a staff member at Epstein's Florida residence for 12 years, said in an unsealed deposition that he believed Ferguson visited "only once and for a short time".<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 January 2024 |first1=Alex |last1=Ross |first2=Io |last2=Dodds |title=The Epstein List: Full list of names revealed in unsealed court records so far |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/jeffrey-epstein-maxwell-prince-andrew-b2473096.html |access-date=6 January 2024 |work=The Independent |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first1=Samantha |last1=Delouya |first2=Jeff |last2=Winter |first3=Lauren |last3=del |date=5 January 2024 |title=Third batch of Jeffrey Epstein documents unsealed |work=CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/05/business/jeffrey-epstein-documents-unsealed-part-three/index.html |access-date=6 January 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=6 January 2024 |title=Prince Andrew had 'daily massages' when visiting Jeffrey Epstein's estate, according to housekeeper |url=https://news.sky.com/story/prince-andrew-had-daily-massages-when-visiting-jeffrey-epsteins-estate-according-to-housekeeper-13042871 |access-date=6 January 2024 |work=Sky News |language=en}}</ref>

In May 2020, it was reported that Andrew and Sarah were in a legal dispute over a debt from the 2014 purchase of their Swiss chalet.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=7 May 2020|title=Prince Andrew to face legal case over reported £5m ski chalet debt|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/may/08/prince-andrew-to-face-legal-case-over-reported-5m-ski-chalet-debt|access-date=9 May 2020|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> They had taken out a mortgage of £13.25 million and were expected to pay the remaining £5 million of the purchase price in cash instalments by the end of 2019;<ref name=":1" /> interest had increased this to £6.8 million.<ref name="Telegraph-Bodkin">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2022/08/07/sarah-fergusons-5m-mayfair-mews-purchase-outrages-chalet-owner/|title=Sarah Ferguson's £5m Mayfair mews purchase 'outrages' chalet owner burned by the Yorks|work=The Telegraph|first=Henry|last=Bodkin|date=7 August 2022|accessdate=8 August 2022|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Despite reports that the Queen would assist them, a spokesperson for the Duke of York confirmed that she "will not be stepping in to settle the debt".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Badshah|first=Nadeem|date=1 June 2020|title=Queen will not pick up chalet debt, says Prince Andrew|work=[[The Times]]|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/queen-will-not-pick-up-andrews-chalet-debt-zpphcdvmk?region=global%2Cglobal|access-date=1 June 2020|url-access=subscription}}</ref> ''[[The Times]]'' reported in September 2021 that Sarah and Andrew had reached a legal agreement with the property's previous owner, and would sell the house to pay back their debt.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last1=Nicholl|first1=Katie|last2=Vanderhoof|first2=Erin|date=28 September 2021|title=Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson Have Solved One Big Financial Woe|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2021/09/prince-andrew-and-sarah-ferguson-ski-chalet-sale|magazine=Vanity Fair|access-date=28 September 2021}}</ref> The owner agreed to receive £3.4 million, half of the amount that she was owed, as she had been under impression that Sarah and Andrew were dealing with financial troubles.<ref name="Telegraph-Bodkin"/> In August 2022, it was reported that Sarah had purchased a £5 million townhouse in Mayfair after the success of her novel ''[[Her Heart for a Compass]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2022/08/05/how-sarah-fergusons-romance-novel-transformed-fortunes/|title=How Sarah Ferguson's romance novel transformed her fortunes|work=The Telegraph|first=Hannah|last=Furness|date=5 August 2022|accessdate=8 August 2022|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

===Cash for access===
In May 2010, Sarah was filmed by the ''[[News of the World]]'' offering [[Mazher Mahmood]], an undercover reporter posing as an Indian businessman, access to Prince Andrew for £500,000.<ref name="TimesX">{{Cite news|last=Gray|first=Sadie|date=23 May 2010|title=Duchess of York 'devastated' by tabloid sting|work=[[The Times]]|location=UK|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article7134347.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100531171225/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article7134347.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 May 2010|access-date=23 May 2010}}</ref> On the video made as a documentary source for the story, which is publicly available, Sarah is heard to say, "£500,000 when you can, to me, open doors".<ref>{{Cite news|date=23 May 2010|title=Duchess of York 'wanted cash for Prince Andrew access'|publisher=BBC|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8699139.stm|access-date=23 May 2010}}</ref> She is seen taking away a briefcase containing £40,000 in cash. Exposure surrounding the incident increased Sarah's public profile and notoriety.<ref>{{Cite web|date=23 May 2010|title=Ex-U.K. royal 'sorry' amid cash-for-access sting|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna37298950|access-date=21 November 2020|publisher=NBC News}}</ref>

[[Sterling Publishing|Sterling Publishers]] substantially increased the print run of ''Ashley Learns About Strangers'', Sarah's latest book for children; however, the notoriety did not translate into additional book sales.<ref>{{Cite web|date=30 May 2010|title=Duchess of York – Debt Swallowing Fergie?|url=http://www.nationalledger.com/ledgerpop/article_272632084.shtml|access-date=3 June 2010|work=National Ledger}}</ref> In an interview with [[Oprah Winfrey]], titled ''Oprah and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York'', Sarah explained her behaviour by saying that she had been drinking prior to soliciting the cash, and was "in the gutter at that moment".<ref>{{Cite web|date=1 June 2010|title=Ferguson Drinking Admission – Fergie 'In the Gutter' on Video|url=http://www.nationalledger.com/ledgerdc/article_272632105.shtml|access-date=3 June 2010|work=National Ledger}}</ref> She also claimed that her intention was initially to help a friend who "needed $38,000 (£28,000) urgently" but she ultimately asked for more money due to her own financial problems.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2 June 2010|title='Out of control' Sarah Ferguson tells Oprah she needed money to help out friend|url=https://us.hellomagazine.com/royalty/201006023625/sarah-ferguson/oprah-winfrey/interview-friend/|access-date=11 May 2018|publisher=Hello!}}</ref>

In November 2016, it was reported that Sarah intended to sue [[News Group Newspapers]] (parent company of the ''News of the World'') and its owner [[Rupert Murdoch]] for £25&nbsp;million in damages citing her "loss in earnings" as well as the subsequent "distress" that the media sting brought to her as the main reasons.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Davies|first=Caroline|date=20 November 2016|title=Duchess of York seeks £25m damages over Mazher Mahmood sting|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/nov/20/duchess-of-york-damages-mazher-mahmood-sting|access-date=23 January 2018}}</ref> In January 2018, it was reported that the actual amount Sarah was seeking was £45&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rawlinson|first=Kevin|date=21 January 2018|title=Sarah Ferguson claims £45m in damages from Murdoch's News Group|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jan/21/sarah-ferguson-claims-45m-in-damages-from-murdochs-news-group|access-date=23 January 2018}}</ref>

In March 2022 it was reported that the wife of jailed Turkish politician [[İlhan İşbilen]] alleged that Sarah received at least £225,000 from businessman Selman Turk, whom Mrs İşbilen is suing for fraud.<ref>{{cite web |title=Prince Andrew took £1 million from Turkish 'fraudster' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2022/03/31/duke-york-took-1m-turkish-fraudster/ |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |first1=Hayley |last1=Dixon |first2=Robert |last2=Mendick |first3=Victoria |last3=Ward |date=31 March 2022 |access-date=1 April 2022 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> An additional £25,000 was sent by Turk in October 2019 to the bank account of Sarah's younger daughter, Eugenie, the second instalment of which was referenced "birthday gift", reportedly "to pay for a surprise birthday party for the Duchess".<ref name="Telegraph-Turk">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2022/04/01/princess-beatrice-eugenie-prince-andrew-fraud-money-news/|title=Exclusive: Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie received money from Turkish 'fraudster' linked to Prince Andrew|work=The Telegraph|first1=Hayley|last1=Dixon|first2=Victoria|last2=Ward|first3=Robert|last3=Mendick|date=1 April 2022|accessdate=3 April 2022|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Sarah was owed £225,000 by Pegasus Group Holdings for her role as brand ambassador, but she received the full amount from Turk, who was then set to reclaim the money from Pegasus.<ref name="Telegraph-Turk"/>

===2012 Turkey legal incident===
On 13 January 2012, the Ministry of Justice of [[Turkey]] issued an international arrest warrant for Sarah. She had travelled to Turkey in 2008 and covertly filmed a Turkish state orphanage. The Turkish authorities alleged that Sarah made a false declaration when entering the country (in regard to her motives for visiting Turkey), trespassed into a Turkish Government institution, and also invaded the privacy of children.<ref>{{Cite news|date=12 January 2012|title=Fergie Charged Over Turkish Documentary|publisher=Sky News|url=http://news.sky.com/story/fergie-charged-over-turkish-documentary-10482063|access-date=8 January 2017}}</ref> These charges carry sentences of up to 22 years imprisonment. Turkey and Britain have an extradition treaty; however, Home Office officials have stated:<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rayner|first=Gordon|date=13 January 2012|title=Duchess of York evades extradition over TV row|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/9013830/Duchess-of-York-evades-extradition-over-TV-row.html|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
{{Blockquote|text=Under UK extradition law a judge must order the discharge of [an extradition request] if it is not an offence under UK law and in the country requesting extradition. In this case there is no offence in UK law so there will be no extradition.}}

Turkey maintains that Sarah distorted information about the orphanage and used an isolated incident in a smear campaign against the Republic of Turkey. Turkey invited international human rights organisations to inspect any orphanage of its choosing to show its transparency in relation to the issue.<ref>{{Cite news|date=17 January 2012|title=Duchess of York cancels U.S. trip, raises questions - CNN.com|work=CNN|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/01/16/world/europe/turkey-us-duchess-film/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Wardrop|first=Murray|date=16 January 2012|title=Turkish government presses ahead with case against Duchess of York despite extradition doubts|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/9016374/Turkish-government-presses-ahead-with-case-against-Duchess-of-York-despite-extradition-doubts.html|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

On 5 May 2012, the trial began into the charges brought by the Ankara State Prosecutor's office. Cansu Şahin, representing Ferguson, who was not present, told the Ankara court that her client has apologised and would like to plea-bargain with the prosecution.<ref>{{Cite news|date=5 May 2012|title=Fergie scrambles over doco charge|publisher=News.com.au|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/fergie-in-spot-of-bother-over-film/story-fn7mjoe2-1226347359337|access-date=27 May 2012|archive-date=9 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609063740/http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/fergie-in-spot-of-bother-over-film/story-fn7mjoe2-1226347359337|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=5 May 2012|title=Duchess of York on trial for filming orphanages in Turkey|url=http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2012/05/05/234-Duchess-of-York-on-trial-for-filming-orphanages-in-Turkey-.html|access-date=8 January 2017|work=News Track India}}</ref>

===Health===
In June 2023, it was announced that Sarah had been diagnosed with an early form of [[breast cancer]] following a routine [[mammogram]]. She successfully underwent a single [[mastectomy]] at [[King Edward VII's Hospital]], and her doctors stated her prognosis as "good".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-66014781|title=Duchess of York recovering after breast cancer operation|work=BBC News|first=Sean|last=Seddon|date=25 June 2023|accessdate=25 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-family/sarah-ferguson-breast-cancer-mastectomy-b2364131.html|title=Sarah Ferguson details undergoing mastectomy to treat breast cancer: 'It was only a shadow'|work=The Independent|first=Kate|last=Ng|date=26 June 2023|accessdate=26 June 2023}}</ref> She also underwent [[Breast reconstruction|reconstructive surgery]] following her mastectomy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-66396605|title=Sarah Ferguson: Duchess of York names reconstructed breast 'Derek'|work=BBC News|first=Charlene Anne|last=Rodrigues|date=3 August 2023|access-date=21 January 2024}}</ref>

In January 2024, it was announced that Sarah had been diagnosed with [[malignant melanoma]] after having several moles removed for analysis.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/sarah-ferguson-duchess-of-york-diagnosed-with-skin-cancer-13053559|title=Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, diagnosed with skin cancer|work=Sky News|first=James|last=Robinson|date=21 January 2023|accessdate=21 January 2023}}</ref>