Fergie fined for excessive luggage and lavish spending
Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, became renowned for her extravagant lifestyle after marrying Prince Andrew. Her spending habits quickly drew public attention due to their scale and extravagance.
£1,000 fine for 51 pieces of luggage
Shortly after her marriage, Fergie was fined nearly £1,000 for traveling with more than 50 pieces of excess baggage on a first-class flight from New York. The luggage contained goods worth approximately £33,000, including a teddy bear costing £515.
“Not even Joan Collins has this much,”
remarked a Heathrow baggage handler who witnessed the incident. The palace declined to comment on who covered the costs of her expenses.
Lavish lifestyle and financial excess
According to her financial advisor, John Bryan, Sarah was spending over £860,000 annually. Her expenditures included £150,000 on gifts, £50,000 on flowers, and another £50,000 on parties.
From modest jobs to royal luxury
Before marrying into the royal family, Sarah held humble jobs, such as cleaning ski chalets and working in a publishing company. Speaking on Swedish television show Skavlan, she recalled her early work experiences.
“I cleaned lavatories when I was 18 and graduates' bedrooms; they all left it very messy. And then the waitress in a strudel house.”
Author’s Summary
Fergie’s extravagant lifestyle, punctuated by fines, lavish purchases, and striking early-life contrasts, became emblematic of her public image as a royal with expensive tastes.