‘I escape in life into everything through my imagination’: Sarah Ferguson reveals she wrote a historical romance novel to deal with the stress of ex-husband Prince Andrew’s bombshell sex abuse lawsuit

• Sarah Ferguson wrote her upcoming novel to deal with her ex’s sex abuse lawsuit
• She said writing helped her ‘escape through my imagination’ and ‘be joyous’
• The duchess presented the Queen with a copy of the tale before her death 

The Duchess of York wrote a historical romance novel to deal with the stress of her ex-husband’s sex abuse lawsuit.

Sarah Ferguson, 62, penned her upcoming Victorian-era book, A Most Intriguing Lady, as Prince Andrew battled sexual assault allegations from Virginia Giuffre. 

Writing allowed the duchess to ‘escape through my imagination’ and ‘be joyous.’ She said becoming ‘an author’ also helped her define herself in the public eye.

Sarah presented the Queen, her ‘wonderful best friend’ and ‘mother,’ a copy of her novel in French before her death. It is unclear if Her Majesty read the book.

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, (left) wrote a historical romance novel to deal with the stress of sex abuse lawsuit against her ex-husband Prince Andrew (right). The former married couple are pictured together in January 2015

Sarah, 62, penned her upcoming Victorian-era book, A Most Intriguing Lady, as Andrew battled sexual assault allegations from Virginia Giuffre

The duchess divulged how writing has helped her cope during an interview at the Henley Literary Festival on Wednesday.

She explained how, amidst the public scrutiny surrounding her former husband, she threw herself into her work. 

‘I escape in life into everything through my imagination and through my will to be joyous,’ Sarah said, according to The Times. 

The royal shared that she didn’t resent the press coverage of Andrew’s scandal, noting that the ‘media are vitally important.’ 

‘I think the media are vitally important for many different reasons,’ she explained.

‘Sometimes they get it right, sometimes they get it wrong. And I think we just keep going and never explain too much or say too much.’

Sarah also shared how writing novels has helped her define her place in the world.

‘Now at last people can say, ‘Oh, she’s the author,’ rather than, ‘She’s . . . err, I don’t know,” she told the conference.

The duchess also addressed the painful loss of Queen Elizabeth II, adding that she was happy to have inherited her corgis.

‘She’s my mother and my wonderful best friend. I’ve been the luckiest person alive because every minute is a memory and it will be in my heart and in my mind,’ Sarah explained.

‘When we wrote the book I gave it to the boss [the Queen]. I said, you don’t need to read it. I gave it to her in French. 

‘It’s been all my life that I’ve known the boss and there’s no one like her. I wouldn’t do anything unless the boss let me.’

She added: ‘It’s a great loss. I think if we can uphold her values and what she’s built for 70 years, we’re doing a great job. Kindness, loyalty and always manners.’ 

A Most Intriguing Lady is slated for release on February 28, 2023. It is the second book penned by the duchess. 

Her first novel, a historical romance titled Her Heart for a Compass, was released last year. It tells the story of Lady Margaret Montagu Douglas Scott and how ‘one act of rebellion costs her place in society’.

Writing allowed the duchess to ‘escape through my imagination’ and ‘be joyous.’ She said becoming ‘an author’ also helped her define herself in the public eye. Sarah Ferguson is pictured during the 79th Venice International Film Festival last month

Sarah presented the Queen, her ‘wonderful best friend’ and ‘mother,’ a copy of her novel in French before her death. It is unclear if Her Majesty read the book. Queen Elizabeth II (left) and the Duchess of York (right) are pictured at the Braemar Highland Games in 1990

Sarah and Andrew, 62, currently reside together despite having divorced in 1996.

Andrew’s royal career ended in disgrace after he was forced to pay an out-of-court settlement to Ms Giuffre earlier this year. The undisclosed settlement is reported to be about £12million. 

Ms Giuffre claimed he sexually abused her three times in 2001 when she was 17 after being trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein, though Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

The settlement was not an admission of liability, but the Queen’s supposedly favourite son was stripped of his royal patronages and honorary military titles in January.

Andrew briefly returned to public life after the death of his mother earlier this month. He was briefly allowed to wear his military uniform as he and his siblings stood vigil next to the Queen’s coffin as she lay in state in Westminster Hall. 

Virginia Giuffre (centre) opened a civil sex assault case against Andrew in New York. Pictured right is Ghislaine Maxwell, who procured girls for sex predator Jeffrey Epstein 

Prince Andrew was permitted by his eldest brother King Charles III to wear his military uniform as he stood guard over his mother’s coffin

There was surprise in March when Andrew was given a frontline role at the memorial service for the Duke of Edinburgh at Westminster Abbey

He also greeted mourners at Balmoral shortly after the death of Her Majesty as they gathered outside the castle where the Queen passed away to lay flowers and pay tribute.

Previously, Andrew was given a brief return to royal life on March 29, 2022 as he escorted his mother into Westminster Abbey for the service of thanksgiving for the life of his father Prince Philip.

But the Duke had no place at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June. Whilst he had been due to attend the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, it was announced at the last minute that he would not attend after testing positive for coronavirus.

He also did not feature at the Order of the Garter service at Windsor later in June, even though he had been listed on the order of service. 

It was reported that Prince William and Prince Charles had lobbied the Queen to ensure he did not attend.

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