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Sarah Ferguson once infuriated Buckingham Palace staff when she refused to specify her meal preferences for a royal picnic, according to revelations from former royal butler Paul Burrell. The incident led to a staff member calling her a "red-haired mare" in front of the Queen - highlighting a pattern of controversial behaviour now resurfacing amid the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
Burrell, who worked for Princess Diana for a decade between 1987 and 1997, describes the dramatic confrontation in his latest book. When ladies were to meet the men stalking on the hills for picnic lunch, a page would ask everyone what they wanted to eat. Ferguson failed to respond to the request, sending one staff member into a rage.
The staff member boomed within earshot of the Queen and assembled ladies: "What does that red-haired mare want for lunch?" The insult was met with silence and no reprimand followed, as staff had already formed their opinions based on gossip and Ferguson's behaviour.
Current scandal consequences
Ferguson's past troubles with royal protocol have gained renewed attention following allegations that she sent an email to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein in April 2011. She allegedly called him a "supreme friend" just one month after publicly vowing never to contact him again in a March 2011 interview.
The allegations have sent shockwaves through British society, years after Prince Andrew's own fall from grace following his disastrous Newsnight interview. Multiple charities have severed ties with Ferguson following the Epstein email revelation.
Royal family relations
Burrell's account reveals Ferguson was less popular with palace staff than Princess Diana. He described the 26-year-old Ferguson as "like a bouncy, uncontrollable red setter puppy" who was "far too familiar for her own good" compared to Diana's gentleness.
Palace staff preferred Diana, whom they had known for almost five years when Ferguson arrived as a newcomer. Burrell noted that Ferguson "had to earn the trust of the staff" and that "the staff could be snobs at times."
Ferguson married Prince Andrew in 1986 and divorced in 1996, though she has maintained an ongoing relationship with the royal family despite previous financial scandals and controversies.
Sources used: "Express", "Mirror", "Manchester Evening News", "Birmingham Mail" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
