Sarah, Duchess of York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sarah |
|
|---|---|
| Duchess of York (more) | |
_(cropped).jpg)
Sarah in Rwanda, 2017
|
|
| Born | Sarah Margaret Ferguson 15 October 1959 London Welbeck Hospital, London, England |
| Spouse | |
| Issue Detail |
|
| House | Windsor (by marriage) |
| Father | Ronald Ferguson |
| Mother | Susan Wright |
| Occupation |
|
| Education |
|
| Signature | |
 |
|
Sarah, Duchess of York (born Sarah Margaret Ferguson; 15 October 1959), is a member of the British royal family. She was married to Prince Andrew, Duke of York, who is the younger brother of King Charles III.
Sarah grew up in Dummer, Hampshire, and studied at the Queen's Secretarial College. She worked for public relations companies and a publishing company. She started dating Prince Andrew in 1985. They were married on 23 July 1986 at Westminster Abbey. They have two daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie. Their marriage, separation in 1992, and divorce in 1996 were often talked about in the news.
Sarah has supported many charities, both during and after her marriage. She helps people with cancer and children. She has been a supporter of Teenage Cancer Trust since 1990 and started her own charity, Children in Crisis. After her divorce, Sarah faced some challenges that affected her relationship with the royal family. However, she has been seen at royal events more recently. She has written several books for children and adults. She has also worked on TV and as a film producer.
In January 2024, it was announced that Sarah was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a type of skin cancer. This was found after some moles were removed for testing.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Sarah Margaret Ferguson was born on 15 October 1959 in London. Her parents were Major Ronald Ferguson (1931–2003) and Susan Barrantes (1937–1998). She has an older sister, Jane. When Sarah's parents divorced in 1974, her mother moved to Argentina. Sarah stayed in Dummer, Hampshire, at her father's home. Her father remarried in 1976 and had three more children. Sarah later shared that when she was 12, she started to struggle with eating habits for comfort.
People often call her "Fergie." She comes from a family of "country gentry" with some old money. She is related to King Charles II of England through three of his children. She is also distantly related to Prince Andrew, as they both share ancestors like the Duke of Devonshire and King James VI and I.
Sarah went to Daneshill School and then Hurst Lodge School in Ascot. She was not a top student but was good at swimming and tennis. When she was young, she enjoyed skiing and worked briefly at a ski resort. As a teenager, she also worked as a cleaner and waitress. After studying at Queen's Secretarial College, Sarah worked for an art gallery, public relations firms, and a publishing company.
Marriage to Prince Andrew
On 19 March 1986, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah Ferguson announced they were engaged. Prince Andrew was fourth in line to the throne at that time. They had known each other since they were children. They met again at Royal Ascot in 1985. Prince Andrew designed Sarah's engagement ring himself. It had ten diamonds around a Burmese ruby, chosen to match Sarah's red hair. People thought Sarah's fun and friendly personality would be a great addition to the royal family.
Prince Andrew and Sarah were married at Westminster Abbey on 23 July 1986. The Queen gave Prince Andrew the title Duke of York. As his wife, Sarah became Her Royal Highness The Duchess of York. Sarah joined her husband in royal duties, including trips to other countries.
In 1987, the Duke and Duchess of York visited Canada for 25 days. Sarah also earned her private pilot's license in February 1987. In March 1988, they visited California. Sarah made an official solo trip to Berlin in May 1989.
Their first daughter, Princess Beatrice, was born on 8 August 1988. Sarah had high blood pressure and water retention during this pregnancy. In September, Sarah joined her husband in Australia for a visit. She was criticized by the media for leaving her newborn daughter at home. Their second daughter, Princess Eugenie, was born on 23 March 1990. During her marriage, some newspapers made fun of Sarah's weight. Sarah later said these stories made her feel bad and worsened her eating difficulties.
Separation and Divorce
Prince Andrew's duties as a naval officer meant he was often away from home. Sarah said they only saw each other about 40 days a year in the first five years of their marriage. By 1991, their marriage was difficult, and Sarah found royal life challenging. The Duke and Duchess of York announced their separation on 19 March 1992. After this, Sarah stopped doing public duties for the Queen. The Queen also stated she would not be responsible for Sarah's debts. Sarah moved to Romenda Lodge in Surrey.
After four years of separation, the Duke and Duchess decided to divorce in 1996. The divorce was finalized on 30 May 1996. Sarah chose not to use the title Her Royal Highness after the divorce. She became known as Sarah, Duchess of York.
Since the divorce, Sarah has attended some events with her daughters. These include royal ceremonies and Royal Ascot. She is treated with courtesy as a member of the extended royal family. The Lord Chamberlain's Office lists Sarah as a member of the royal family. She attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.
Charity Work and Support
Sarah has been involved with many charities since her marriage. She continues this work after her divorce.
In 1990, Sarah became a patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust. She has opened many of the charity's units. Sarah also started working with people who have motor neurone disease in the 1990s. She became president of the International Alliance for ALS. In 1993, Sarah founded Children in Crisis, a charity that helps children with education. She started this charity after meeting a young cancer patient in Poland in 1992.
In 1994, Sarah launched her charity, Chances for Children, in the US. A doll called "Little Red" was used as the charity's logo. This doll later inspired a series of books written by Sarah. The money from selling the doll also went to Chances for Children.
In 1998, Sarah visited the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. She wanted to learn about women's health research to share important health messages. Sarah's elder daughter, Beatrice, was diagnosed with dyslexia. Sarah became a patron of Springboard for Children, a charity that helps students with reading and writing. Sarah has also said she is "a little bit dyslexic."
.jpg)
In 2003, Sarah joined the American Cancer Society. She supported their campaign to raise awareness about the link between weight and cancer. In 2004, Sarah became a spokesperson for SOS Children's Villages – USA. In 2005, she became a global ambassador for Ronald McDonald House Charities. In 2006, Sarah started The Sarah Ferguson Foundation to support charities helping children and families in need.
In 2008, Sarah became a patron of Humanitas, a charity that helps children with education and healthcare. In 2011, Sarah became a global ambassador for Not For Sale, a charity fighting human slavery. In 2013, Sarah, Prince Andrew, and their daughters started Key To Freedom. This helps women in India sell their products through a British retailer. In 2014, Sarah became an ambassador for the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London.
In 2016, Sarah worked with artist Teddy McDonald and her daughters to create a painting called Royal Love. The painting was sold to raise money for Children in Crisis. In 2018, Sarah merged her charity foundation with Street Child, an organization that helps children in Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Sierra Leone. Sarah became a patron of Street Child.
In 2019, Sarah became a patron of Natasha Allergy Research Foundation. This organization works to improve food labeling laws after a young girl died from an allergic reaction. In June 2020, Sarah launched her new charity, Sarah's Trust. This charity has provided aid to NHS staff, care homes, and homeless people.
Film and Television Work
In 2000, Sarah helped produce and present a BBC documentary called In Search of the Spirit. In 2004, she provided a voice for the animated film The Cat That Looked at a King.
In 2008, Sarah was a special reporter for NBC's Today. She also appeared in a two-part film called The Duchess in Hull, where she helped a family improve their lives. In the same year, she traveled to Romania and Turkey for a documentary called Duchess and Daughters: Their Secret Mission. This film looked into the poor conditions in children's homes.
Sarah helped produce the 2009 film The Young Victoria. This movie was about the early life of Queen Victoria. Sarah was interested in Queen Victoria's story and felt there were similarities between Victoria's marriage and her own.
Sarah had a main role in a mini-series on Oprah Winfrey Network called Finding Sarah in 2011. In the show, she talked about her life challenges and financial issues.
In April 2020, Sarah started a new series on her YouTube channel called Storytime with Fergie and Friends. In this series, she and other authors read stories to children from their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Titles and Honours
During her marriage, Sarah was known as "Her Royal Highness the Duchess of York." After her divorce in 1996, she stopped using the style Her Royal Highness. She is now known as Sarah, Duchess of York.
Sarah has received several awards for her work. In 1998, she received the Journal of Women's Health Award. In 2007, she was named Mother of the Year by the American Cancer Society. She also received the ONE X ONE Difference Award for helping children worldwide. In 2018, she received the Humanitarian Award at the Filming Italy Sardegna Festival. In 2019, she received the Inspiration of the Year Award from Hello! magazine for her charity work.
Issue
| Name | Birth | Marriage | Issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Spouse | |||
| Princess Beatrice | 8 August 1988 | 17 July 2020 | Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi | Sienna Mapelli Mozzi |
| Princess Eugenie | 23 March 1990 | 12 October 2018 | Jack Brooksbank | August Brooksbank Ernest Brooksbank |
Images for kids
-
Sarah's signature
-
Sarah's coat of arms
-
Sarah's coat of arms during her marriage
See also
In Spanish: Sarah Ferguson para niños
