Fergie's Literary Dreams Dashed Amid Royal Storm
Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has encountered another significant professional setback as her upcoming children's book has been abruptly withdrawn from publication. The decision comes during an increasingly turbulent period for the royal, who finds herself entangled in the ongoing controversy surrounding her former husband Prince Andrew's connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The book, titled 'Flora and Fern: Kindness Along The Way', was scheduled for release on October 9, according to earlier announcements in the Bookseller publication. As recently as last week, the children's title remained listed as available for purchase from November 20. However, the publication has now completely vanished from retailer websites, marking a dramatic reversal for the 66-year-old author.
Publisher Intervention Confirms Withdrawal
NielsonIQ Book Data has officially confirmed to the BBC that the book has been marked as 'withdrawn from sale' at the publisher's direct request. While no specific reason has been provided for this sudden withdrawal, industry insiders suggest the move reflects commercial realities given the current climate surrounding the author.
Waterstones had already signalled potential trouble in October when they 'moved' the book's release date without providing a concrete alternative publication schedule. A spokesperson for the bookseller confirmed they had received no further communication from the publisher since that initial postponement.
Neill Denny, editor of book trade news website Book Brunch, offered his perspective: 'You have to imagine it's to do with the current controversies. It's not the right time to release a book by Sarah Ferguson.' He suggested publishers might 'sit' on the publication for six months to a year, waiting for the storm of controversy to subside before considering a future release date.
Deepening Royal Crisis and Personal Fallout
The book withdrawal represents just the latest development in what has become a dramatic fall from grace for both Ferguson and her former husband. Prince Andrew was stripped of his royal title last month and has agreed to surrender the lease on the 30-room Royal Lodge in Windsor, where he had been paying peppercorn rent for decades.
Sources have revealed that Ferguson, who lived with Andrew at the Grade II listed property for over twenty years, 'will make her own arrangements' regarding her future housing. The Duchess is reportedly 'more on edge' amid the couple's escalating troubles, currently hunkering down at the Windsor mansion while 'surrounded by Amazon deliveries'.
The controversy intensified recently when emails emerged showing Ferguson had maintained contact with Jeffrey Epstein despite publicly denouncing the convicted sex offender. In a particularly damaging 2011 communication, she described Epstein as a 'steadfast, generous and supreme friend' just weeks after telling the press she had severed all ties with him.
This revelation led seven charities to cut ties with the Duchess, including the Teenage Cancer Trust, which she had supported since 1990, along with the British Heart Foundation, Julia's House, and Prevent Breast Cancer.
Potential Escape to Portugal
Amid the growing pressure, reports suggest Ferguson may be preparing to leave the UK entirely. Sources indicate she could swap Windsor for her daughter Princess Eugenie's £3.6 million oceanfront villa in Portugal as early as January.
According to local reports, Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank have prepared a 'grand suite' in their Portuguese property for the 66-year-old to occupy following her departure from Royal Lodge. The area has become popular with celebrities including Madonna, Scarlett Johansson, and Nicole Kidman, potentially offering Ferguson a more discreet environment away from the British media spotlight.
While Harper Collins, which published two of Ferguson's previous titles, declined to comment on the situation, they confirmed that both of her earlier books remain available for purchase. The Daily Mail has approached Sarah Ferguson's representatives for comment regarding both the book withdrawal and the potential relocation to Portugal.
