Sarah Ferguson's Bizarre Corgi Cloning Scheme Exposed
Exclusive revelations published last week have uncovered that Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, engaged in extraordinary discussions about cloning the late Queen Elizabeth II's beloved corgis to bolster her struggling finances. The news, which emerged through detailed reporting, has likely shocked yet not entirely surprised royal observers familiar with Fergie's long history of monetizing her royal connections.
The Controversial Cloning Proposal
In May 2023, just eight months after the Queen's passing, Ferguson participated in talks with reality television producers about creating genetic replicas of the royal corgis Muick and Sandy. Although this vulgar money-making scheme ultimately failed to materialize, the mere fact that such an outlandish concept reached the discussion stage reveals the extraordinary lengths to which the 66-year-old former duchess has been willing to go.
The attraction for Ferguson allegedly stemmed from the lucrative nature of pet cloning, despite its highly contentious ethical standing. In the United States, where the practice remains legal, carbon copy dogs can command prices reaching £75,000 each. This episode represents merely the latest in a series of tawdry examples demonstrating how the ex-duchess has systematically exploited her royal associations for financial benefit.
Documenting Decades of Dubious Deals
Andrew Lownie's bestselling biography, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, published last year, meticulously documents numerous lesser-known but equally questionable business arrangements associated with Sarah Ferguson spanning three decades. These revelations paint a comprehensive picture of an individual who once openly declared being "continually on the verge of bankruptcy" while pursuing increasingly creative methods to generate income through royal connections.
The catalogue of controversial ventures includes a remarkably modest nursing home arrangement where Ferguson received just £1 per bed for lending her name to "Duchess of York Nursing Homes." This deal, negotiated with East End entrepreneur Clive Garrad, promised initial annual earnings of £30,000 with projections reaching £200,000 within several years. Garrad, who later admitted finding the prestige of royal association "intoxicating," would eventually face bankruptcy and imprisonment for VAT fraud.
Questionable Media and Business Ventures
Ferguson's financial pursuits extended deeply into media engagements and corporate partnerships. In 1989, she and Prince Andrew accepted £50,000 for an extensive 48-page spread in Hello! Magazine featuring seventy intimate photographs of their private life, including images of baby Princess Beatrice in the bath. While initially presented as a charitable donation, the funds ultimately benefited Ferguson's mother, Susan Barrantes, who required financial assistance for property renovations at Sunninghill Park after the Queen declined further funding.
The former duchess demonstrated particular creativity in media negotiations, accepting £84,000 in damages from Paris Match magazine after it published topless photographs of her, only to subsequently sign a contract with the same publication as a roving reporter interviewing international celebrities for approximately £50,000 per article. Her syndication contract with The New York Times distributed weekly anecdotal diaries worldwide, while OK! magazine paid £200,000 for an exclusive interview.
Lucrative Speaking Engagements and Endorsements
Ferguson's speaking career proved remarkably profitable, with tile manufacturer Porcelanosa paying $550,000 for just five pre-written talks about her life transformation in 2007. These speeches, crafted by one of Bill Clinton's former speechwriters, funded extravagant travel arrangements aboard the Queen Mary 2, complete with an extensive entourage including hairdressers, personal trainers, and multiple assistants.
Other notable arrangements included a £200,000 Sky One lifestyle program, a £50,000 hosting fee for a Sky TV series, and a ten-day American lecture tour earning £200,000 where she reportedly crossed paths with golf legend Tiger Woods. Ferguson even allegedly confided to Piers Morgan about being "in love" with the fifteen-time major champion, though questions persisted about whether certain romantic relationships served primarily as business arrangements.
The Current Financial Landscape
Despite decades of creative income generation, Ferguson's earning potential has recently reached unprecedented lows. King Charles's decision to substantially reduce Prince Andrew's allowance following the Queen's death has "dramatically impacted" the former duchess financially. Compounding these challenges, the ongoing reputational damage from Andrew's fall from grace, including his arrest earlier this year, has effectively terminated Ferguson's ability to benefit financially from royal associations.
This development marks a significant shift for an individual who maintained a lavish lifestyle through what she described as a "very modern divorce" arrangement, continuing to cohabitate with her former husband while receiving a £3 million divorce settlement. Ferguson has remained steadfastly supportive of Andrew, telling Vanity Fair in 2023 that she had "married a wonderful, very kind, and a very good man" despite the controversies surrounding him.
Notorious Scandals and Questionable Associations
Among Ferguson's most infamous episodes was the 2010 "cash-for-access" scandal, where she offered introductions to Prince Andrew for £500,000 during meetings with an undercover journalist posing as a foreign tycoon. She boldly declared, "I can open any door you want, and I will for you," demonstrating the explicit commodification of her royal access.
More troubling revelations emerged earlier this year regarding Ferguson accepting £15,000 from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to address significant debts. Even her more respectable ventures, including her role as Weight Watchers ambassador and various publishing deals, consistently leveraged the Windsor name for financial gain.
The Little Red rag doll venture, launched after the September 11 attacks to raise funds for her Chances For Children charity, generated a £1 million book deal despite the dolls retailing for just £10 each. This pattern of transforming royal association into commercial opportunity has defined Ferguson's post-royal career, with the corgi cloning discussions representing merely the latest chapter in this ongoing narrative of financial exploitation.
