Sarah, Duchess of York (born Sarah Margaret Ferguson, 15 October 1959) is the former wife of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, fourth in line to the British throne. She is a former member of the British Royal Family and the mother of Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, who are respectively fifth and sixth in line to the British throne. She is popularly referred to as 'Fergie,' a nickname she shares with pop singer Stacy Ann Ferguson.
Sarah and Prince Andrew's romance began after some scheming to bring them together was orchestrated by Diana, Princess of Wales in 1985. Early in 1986 the couple were engaged and subsequently married in Westminster Abbey on 23 July 1986. Prince Andrew had the title of The Duke of York bestowed upon him by the Queen. Sarah automatically became Her Royal Highness The Duchess of York. In 1987, the Duchess became the first lady in the Royal Family to receive her Private Pilot's License.
By 1992, the marriage was experiencing trouble and the couple had drifted apart. While her husband was away on military or royal duties, Sarah was frequently seen in the company of other men, most notably Texas multimillionaire Steve Wyatt. Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson finally agreed to separate in January 1992. Matters came to a head in August 1992, when surreptitiously taken photographs of John Bryan, an American financial manager — in the act of sucking on the toes of a topless Sarah—were published in the British tabloid newspaper The Daily Mirror. The Duchess was exposed to widespread public ridicule, which contributed to her further estrangement from the British Royal Family . After some 4 years of being officially separated, the Duke and Duchess made the mutual decision to divorce in 1996.
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