Happy to be out of the house, Fergie? Duchess of York attends Dame Joan Collins’ star-studded 88th birthday after ex-husband Prince Andrew agrees a settlement with sexual abuse accuser Virginia Roberts

• Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson attended  actress Dame Joan Collins’ star-studded 88th birthday on Thursday
• Ferguson, 62, was all smiles only two days after her ex-husband Prince Andrew settled his sex assault lawsuit
• Duke of York now faces a £12 million legal bill and is said to be selling his £18 million Swiss chalet for the cash 
• Andrew’s image was left in tatters over the scandal after he was accused of sexual assault by Virginia Roberts  

The Duchess of York on Thursday evening attended legendary actress Dame Joan Collins’ star-studded 88th birthday and 20th wedding anniversary celebration at Claridges in London. 

Sarah Ferguson arrived at the Mayfair address alone ahead of the event two days after her ex-husband Prince Andrew reached an out-of-court agreement with Virginia Roberts in a civil suit over alleged sexual abuse. 

Ferguson, 62, looked stunning in a black gown with sheer sleeves and a glittering belt around her waist as she made her way inside, where she was joined by actress Elizabeth Hurley, music mogul Simon Cowell and his fiancée Lauren Silverman.  

She was all smiles despite the scandal involving the Duke of York, which has left his image in tatters and facing a legal bill of up to £12 million after agreeing a settlement with Roberts, who claims she was trafficked by his friend and convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein.

Andrew is also understand to have agreed to pay a ‘substantial donation’ to his accuser’s charity, but the agreement is not an admission of guilt from the duke and he has always strenuously denied the allegations against him.

Ferguson’s appearance came hours after residents in York on Thursday called for Prince Andrew to be stripped of his Duke of York – which he was given by the Queen on his wedding day in 1986 – title following the sex assault lawsuit.      

Last month, the Queen stripped Andrew of his remaining patronages and honorary military roles as the monarchy distanced itself from the duke ahead of potentially damaging developments in his lawsuit. 

The Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson on Thursday evening attended Dame Joan Collins’ star-studded 88th birthday and 20th wedding anniversary celebration

Sarah Ferguson arrived at Mayfair address Claridge’s alone ahead of the event, held in honour of legendary Joan’s birthday – which falls on the same date as her wedding anniversary

Ferguson  was all smiles despite the scandal involving the Duke of York, which has left his image in tatters and facing a legal bill of up to £12 million after agreeing a settlement with Roberts, who claims she was trafficked by his friend and convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein

Ms Roberts made a claim against Andrew (pictured together) for damages in her home country of the US, claiming she was trafficked by Epstein to have sex with the royal when she was 17, a minor under US law 

Ms Roberts made a claim against Andrew for damages in her home country of the US, claiming she was trafficked by Epstein to have sex with the royal when she was 17, a minor under US law.

The settlement agreement states that Andrew will donate to Ms Roberts’ charity in support of victims’ rights and that he has pledged to ‘demonstrate his regret for his association with Epstein’ by supporting the ‘fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims’. 

No detail has been disclosed with regard to the settlement and costs, but it has been reported the duke has agreed to pay around £10 million to Ms Roberts and a further £2 million to her charity, with speculation the Queen might help with costs from her private funds.

Andrew is reportedly in the process of selling his £18million Swiss ski chalet with the property expected to generate many millions in funds. 

On Thursday, residents of York called on the Queen to strip Andrew of his dukedom and allow the city to be represented by another royal.  

Dignitaries in the city had previously called for him to be stripped of the title for causing ‘deep hurt and embarrassment’ to residents due to his relationship with the paedophile financier.   

Ferguson was joined at the star-studded event on Thursday by actress Liz Hurley, 56, who looked stunning in a plunging red gown that exposed her cleavage. 

She was joined by her 19-year-old son Damien who, ensuring he claimed his own share of the spotlight, looked dapper in a black dinner jacket and matching trousers. 

The young model added to his look with a white waistcoat, shirt and bow-tie as he helped Joan celebrate her special day.  

Ferguson, 62, joined legendary actress Dame Joan Collins for her 88th birthday celebrations also attended by Elizabeth Hurley, music mogul Simon Cowell and his fiancée Lauren Silverman

Side by side: Elizabeth Hurley and son Damian (L) were joined by Simon Cowell and his fiancée Lauren Silverman (R) on Thursday evening as they helped Dame Joan Collins celebrate her 88th birthday with a host of celebrity friends in London

Look who it is: While several of her closest pals turned up for the event, there was one old TV nemesis was also in attendance – her former Dynasty co-star Stephanie Beacham

Meanwhile, music mogul Simon looked to be recovering well from his recent electric bike accident as he put on a dapper display as he arrived alongside his wife-to-be Lauren. 

Earlier that day the iconic British actress celebrated her twentieth wedding anniversary with husband Percy Gibson and she hinted the secret to domestic bliss is having ‘separate bathrooms’.  

The acting legend married handsome producer and her fifth husband Percy, 56, on February 17, 2002.

On Thursday Joan – who is 32 years older than Percy – told fans how happy they were after two decades of living together. 

Posting up a throwback from their big day, Joan wrote: ’20 years ago today #ahubby and I tied the knot and have been happily married ever since #20thanniversary #togetherness #happymarriage.’ She then added with laughing emoji : ‘#separatebathrooms.’

Joan and Percy received congratulations from friends including Paul O Grady and hat designer Philip Treacy.

The two met during a theatre production and at the time Joan admitted she ‘wasn’t interested in getting married again’ at first, but changed her mind after they became close friends and insisted her current marriage is ‘for good’. 

Love: Dame Joan also celebrated her twentieth wedding anniversary with husband Percy Gibson on the same day, and she hinted the secret to domestic bliss is having ‘separate bathrooms’

Loved-up: It comes after Joan revealed that she relocated to France with her husband Percy during the pandemic because she felt so frustrated

It comes after the screen legend revealed she felt like she was ‘in jail’ during the UK lockdown. 

She spent the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic in London but as soon as international travel was permitted, she relocated to France with her husband Percy Gibson because she felt so frustrated. 

She said: ‘I was in London for most of the time. But after the three-month period from March 2020, I went to the south of France, as I have a house there. 

‘I found London difficult because I felt like I was in jail, not knowing when I was going to get out.’   

Joan spent a ‘ridiculous’ amount of time watching TV and admitted she gained weight because there was nothing to do but eat and drink.

She said: ‘Of course I was [in tracksuits] weren’t we all? I gained about half a stone. I was eating as much as possible because aside from drinking bottles of wine and polishing off chocolates – what else was there to do?

‘I also watched endless television – it was ridiculous. I watched nine hours one day.

‘I would watch the morning programmes and read all the papers, so that would take me up to lunchtime.’  

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