The Duchess of York had it all planned out: A bash fit for royalty, with hundreds of close friends celebrating in her honour.
But due to yet another personal financial crisis, Sarah Ferguson has had to cancel the party marking her 50th birthday.
The former princess recalled her guest list of over 300 royals, friends and hangers on at the last minute, as the reality of the party bill set in.
It is not the first time the woman once cruelly called the ‘Duchess of Pork’ has struggled to control her cash. After her divorce was finalised in 1996, Fergie’s blossoming weight coincided with the news she had accrued debts of over $8 million to Coutts, the Royal Bank.
To pay them off she agreed to a number of media roles, including a stint as a spokesperson for Weight Watchers, children’s writer and even a guest role on the 1990s sitcom ‘Friends’.
A spokesperson for the Duchess played down rumours of financial strife, denying Sarah had serious financial problems.
“She has faced some challenges and difficult times with one side of her business, Hartmoor,” the source said. “She’s resilient, will work through the situation and bounce back from this.”
But recent reports reveal the New York-based company set up to manage Fergie’s media career is expected to close with over $1.1 million in debts.
Fergie will now spend her half-century birthday with a relatively modest dinner at a local restaurant, with just her daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, and a few close associates in attendance.
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