Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, may be on the cusp of another public resurgence, according to royal author Phil Dampier. Amid reports that Ferguson, 66, could receive a significant inheritance from her late ex-boyfriend, Paddy McNally, Dampier suggests she has the potential for a new comeback.
McNally, who died this month at age 88, was reportedly worth £600 million. Dampier believes McNally, who remained close to Ferguson throughout their lives, would have likely provided for her in his will, potentially through an annual allowance rather than a lump sum due to Ferguson's reported spending habits.
Ferguson has weathered numerous scandals throughout her public life, including the infamous "toe-sucking" incident and allegations of setting up her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, for a "cash-for-access sting." More recently, revelations of her friendship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, which led to her public and personal fallout, had a significant impact on her reputation.
Despite these challenges, Dampier noted Ferguson's consistent ability to rebound. "She has had more comebacks than Frank Sinatra and it looks like she may pull off her most incredible yet," he told the Daily Mail. He believes that financial security could enable Ferguson to "salvage her reputation" and potentially re-establish herself as a media personality or launch a new business.
Ferguson was last seen in April at a ski resort in Austria. However, Dampier anticipates her return to the United Kingdom, with reports suggesting she is house hunting in the Windsor area. He also suggested that Ferguson may aim to "try and get back in with the King for the sake of her daughters" and to avoid further alienating the royal family.
Dampier's first assignment as a royal journalist was covering Ferguson's wedding to Prince Andrew 40 years ago, providing him with a long-term perspective on her public life and career.