The York Princesses in America: Beatrice and Eugenie 'Given a Life in U.S.' After Royal Drama
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie may not have been welcomed into the senior British royal fold, but both were warmly welcomed in America.
"When I came in 1995 ... I don't know how to thank you gave my children a life, I was divorced, from England, I went to live in America, and I got a job. And it's all thanks to you," Sarah Ferguson recently told a crowd in Florida.
"I wanted to thank the American people for giving me back my life — always have a handkerchief, by the way, I get so emotional," Her former Royal Highness added during a speech at Palm Beach's Cancer Alliance of Help and Hope event.
Sarah and Prince Andrew divorced in 1996, which ended a tumultuous four years in the then-Duchess of York's life. In 1992, she was photographed by paps while her lover, Texan John Bryan, kissed and "sucked her toes" with the two toddler princesses nearby. The pictures were plastered all over the newspapers, and both Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were "disgusted" by the snapshots.
Ferguson's marital life with the Duke of York was also "wholly incompatible" for the pair, as the Duchess struggled with his long absences while in the military. Coincidentally, Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, also separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996.
Ferguson was diagnosed with b----- cancer in the summer of 2023 and received a "successful" mastectomy to fix the issue. The ex-Duchess received a double blow in late December of last year when she was told she had skin cancer, for which she is now being treated.
"The cancer alliance is about hope, and there isn't enough hope in the world," Ferguson told the crowd in Florida. "I want to thank you all for your kindness in supporting my family members who are going through a hard time, and we wish everyone well, every family in the world that has been diagnosed or who is going through a difficult time we wish them well."
She continued: "And of course, my brother-in-law, we wish you well, keep fighting on."
She also shared how the United States allowed her to "explore her inner self" after the split, which is where she settled for over a decade. The former Duchess of York would go on to move in with her ex-husband at the Royal Lodge near Windsor Castle in 2008.
"I will say that after I got divorced, I spent 12 years in America, writing books, and it was a wonderful place for me. I felt free there. The American people have been so good to me… they really have given my babies their mummy," Fergie shared.
GBN reported on Ferguson's comments.