In an unearthed interview from 1994, Sarah Ferguson candidly discussed her feelings about marrying Prince Andrew and her initial terror of Buckingham Palace. The interview, part of the Ruby Wax Meets series, was recently uploaded to Ruby Wax's YouTube channel, offering a rare glimpse into the Duchess of York's state of mind during a tumultuous period.
Joining the Royal Family
Sarah, then still married to Prince Andrew, spoke openly about the overwhelming experience of entering Buckingham Palace for the first time. 'Adrenaline runs overtime, big time,' she recalled. 'It's absolutely terrifying.' Despite never living at the Palace—preferring Sunninghill Park in Berkshire—Sarah remembered strict protocols, such as windows only being opened to a certain level to maintain uniform appearance.
Scandal and Self-Reflection
The interview took place shortly after the scandal involving Sarah's relationship with American financial manager John Bryan, who was photographed kissing her feet. Reflecting on the incident, Sarah admitted to poor judgment: 'I had the most appalling character judgement, and with John—he's a very believable person. I didn't know I was playing with fire.' She also confessed to feeling 'completely unaware' of her surroundings and looking back at her actions with regret.
Struggles with Self-Image
Sarah traced many of her mistakes to feelings of abandonment after her parents' divorce in 1974. She recalled visiting her mother in Argentina and feeling intimidated by local girls who seemed tall, slim, and attractive. At 16, she experimented with slimming pills and injections, an experience she described as bizarre and dangerous. 'I got so angry with my mum, I nearly drew a knife on her,' she said, though she was unsure if the drugs directly caused this reaction. She believed the toxic side effects lingered for years, contributing to a self-destructive spiral fueled by self-loathing.
Enduring Bond with Andrew
Despite their separation and eventual divorce in 1996, Sarah spoke of Prince Andrew as her 'best friend' and credited him with saving her. When asked about remarriage, she coyly replied, 'I think we just take each day as it comes.' Over 30 years later, the couple's paths have diverged significantly, with Andrew living in seclusion in Norfolk and Sarah reportedly traveling between health spas, both grappling with the fallout from their association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
