The Stunning Transformation Of Sarah Ferguson

Diana Spencer and Sarah Ferguson were distant relatives, but their relationship blossomed into true friendship in their teens. Princess Diana often included Ferguson in invitations to posh parties and royal events. In fact, it was Princess Diana who insisted that Ferguson be invited to the Royal Ascot in 1985 as a potential suitor for Prince Andrew. He had recently suffered several "indiscretions" and needed an image makeover. A fine romance with a vivacious redhead seemed like the perfect solution. Though Prince Andrew and Ferguson had known each other since childhood, this planned meeting by Princess Diana rekindled their relationship and, according to Vanity Fair, flung the two headlong into a whirlwind romance. 

As the relationship progressed, Ferguson began making public appearances with the Royals, and Town and Country reported that she relied on Princess Diana to guide her. Princess Diana loaned her clothes or offered advice. Ferguson later wrote in her autobiography "My Story" about her first public appearance, "'Just keep smiling,' Diana whispered. And I did, as I would for long years to come.'"

On July 23, 1986, the cameras were trained on the future Duchess of York. The Mirror reports her gown was designed by British designer Lindka Cierach and was made of duchesse satin. Good Housekeeping remarked how it fit like a corset. It included bees and thistles embroidered on it, which were part of the Ferguson family crest. On the train, the letters A and S were embroidered in silver beads. Though the designer of her gown was not well-known, the wedding dress was immediately copied worldwide.

At first, Sarah Ferguson wore a large flower crown made of gardenias as she walked down the aisle because they were Andrew's favorite flower, The Express reports. As she left the church, she removed the flower crown and sported a new tiara gifted to her by the royal family, a symbol of her own entrance into royalty. A large 5-carat diamond sat atop platinum scrollwork. Ferguson has since worn it several times, even after her divorce. It is known as the York tiara since she was the Duchess of York. 

Years later, in an interview with Piers Morgan (via The Express), Ferguson described the day. "Like every bride's wedding day, it's a special day. And you've got a beautiful dress on. But you're standing there with the man you love. And then there are people out there who are wishing you so well. And it's just extraordinary."

At first, the newlyweds seemed to get along as well as they believed they would. Prince Andrew was devoted and relieved to have the fun-loving new duchess at his side. During their tour of Canada in 1987, Sarah Ferguson delighted the commonwealth members with her enthusiasm and sense of fun.

A few years later, they returned to Canada to try and regain some of their lost popularity. According to Macleans, the queen was disappointed in the duke and duchess's half-hearted attention to royal duties. Andrew often went on naval duty, and Ferguson made infrequent public appearances. But it seemed no matter which way she stepped, she never quite got it right. If she went on a public tour with her husband, she was criticized for leaving her new daughter, Beatrice, at home. In short, she needed to charm public opinion. So they increased their public appearances and tried to make good with the press.

After several years of such abuse, however, it was clear that Ferguson was happy to charm and talk to people, she was less inclined to care what the press or even the royal family thought of her. "My clothes and what I look like, really, that is entirely up to me because, quite frankly, Andrew likes it, and I like it, and if no one else does, well, that's their problem."

Sarah Ferguson moved to the United States following her disappointing divorce. She retained her duchess title but no longer received much financial support from the palace. She found a new career as an author and published her first children's book in 1995. Since then, Ferguson has written at least 38 children's books, several autobiographical stories and even made a foray into historical fiction. She also supported herself with endorsement deals, Good Housekeeping has reported, such as her 11-year partnership with Weight Watchers. 

The longer she was in America, the more she showed signs of finding her true self. She claimed that her grandmother taught her, "When you feel bad about yourself, go and give to others" (via YouTube). This inspired her to begin her own charities, first in the U.K. with Children in Crisis and later in the United States with Chances for Children.

One of Sarah Ferguson's most notable works of charity is the character "Little Red." In 2004, CBS reported that the character was originally designed as the logo for the "Chances for Children" charity in the U.S. in 1994. The logo was turned into a rag doll that could be given to children served by the charity. Ferguson saw how popular the doll was and crafted a series of children's books about Little Red.

On September 11, 2001, Sarah Ferguson was on her way to her charity's office in the World Trade Center. Ferguson told CNN's Larry King shortly after the attacks that she was in the studio at "Good Morning America," and her assistant was on his way to the office on the 101st floor when they received the news about the attacks. In the rubble of the attacks, firemen recovered a Little Red rag doll that had fallen all the way from her windowsill in Ferguson's office on the 101st floor.

Ferguson told CBS that she wrote a second Little Red book as a "thank you note" to the American people. "You've given me back my life, you know? The American people have embraced me ... just said, 'It's OK to be yourself.' Where nine years ago, when I arrived (in the U.S.), I was a broken, sinking vessel ... now my children have their mommy back. And it's all thanks to the American people saying, 'You're all right, Fergie. Come with us. It's OK.'"

No matter what she's gone through, Sarah Ferguson practices the art of gratitude. During a 2002 interview with CNN, she talked about all of the embarrassment she's faced in the press. 

"Thank heavens I have been through that because I learned. I learned so much about myself. And in learning about yourself, you can be humble to understand that basically all I'm here to do is just keep on talking, really. Because there are an awful lot of children out there that don't have a chance to be on Larry King and talk about how difficult it is to be in the freezing conditions of Afghanistan right now or whatever it might be," she said at the time.

"So, if I can sit here and just keep on talking about the issues that really are very important, then I'm lucky. And how did I get here?" she continued. "By making so many mistakes that the press got rather curious about how I made so many mistakes. The good thing is that I learned."

Sarah Ferguson once told Harper's Bazaar that "the only thing I know I've done 100 percent right is be a good mother. I'm proud to say I'm the best mom I know. People say to me, 'What is your brand identity?' And I say, 'I'm a global mother.'"

Ferguson has been open about the impact her charity work had on her as a person. She wrote for the Evening Standard, "It has certainly made me a better mother to my daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, giving me a sense of perspective, and allowing me to encourage them to use the platform they have to get involved in charitable work." 

Not only is she proud of the way she co-parented her daughters Eugenie and Beatrice with her ex-husband, but she views her role with her myriad of charities as a sort of "global motherhood." Her most recent philanthropic venture is Sarah's Trust, which helps match wealthy benefactors who are philanthropically minded with charities they can partner with. Ferguson is quoted on the organization's website saying, "I am incredibly excited to be bringing all of my charitable causes under one roof with Sarah's Trust. It's something I have wanted to do for a long time."