Former royal butler Paul Burrell claims Sarah Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s habits during their marriage caused uproar among Buckingham Palace staff
Sarah Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have been embroiled in the Epstein aga(Image: Max Mumby/Indigo, Getty Images)
A former member of the royal household claims one particular behaviour of Sarah Ferguson and her ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor left staff absolutely livid. Fergie, 66, has found herself caught up in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal in recent weeks.
Following a tranche of emails published by the Department of Justice in the United States, the former Duchess of York was revealed to have asked Epstein to “marry” her, suggested giving his associates tours of Buckingham Palace, and even brought her daughters Beatrice and Eugenie to meet him.
She is currently understood to be staying abroad whilst weighing up her next steps, having left Royal Lodge following King Charles‘ request.
According to former royal butler Paul Burrell, friction between Fergie and palace staff had been simmering from the moment she joined the Royal Family.
In his book The Royal Insider: My Life with the Queen, the King and Princess, he described Andrew as being completely “besotted” with his then-new bride, who in his eyes could “do no wrong”.
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However, highlighting the discord, he wrote: “But the staff were up in arms early in the marriage. From the beginning, the royal newlyweds refused to leave their martial bed.
“The maids weren’t allowed to go into the bedroom to make the bed for days. When the couple did surface, they held lavish dinner, lunch and tea parties with all their friends.”
Paul, who served under Princess Diana between 1987 and 1997, suggested this created problems for weary staff members who apparently favoured adhering to fixed mealtimes. He went on: “The kitchen staff were run off their feet. Even the Queen didn’t entertain so extravagantly. The royal chiefs were furious to be making food like it was an á la carte restaurant.
“They were used to serving food to the Queen and the Royal Family at set times. It was too much. The staff rebelled and protests were made to the Master of the Household who informed the Queen of her staff’s unhappiness.
“She had to intervene and put a stop to the lavish gluttony. After all, she despised waste, deciding in advance which food should be cooked for her each day. So why should Andrew and Fergie be different?”
Paul, 67, then alleged Andrew was “never easy” to work with, particularly for those employed at the palace.
The writer, who also penned A Royal Duty, initially served as a footman to Queen Elizabeth before becoming King Charles’ butler. Yet he was best known for being close to Diana.
In another section of his latest book, he disclosed the amusing two-word nickname personnel used for Buckingham Palace.
Describing a drinking culture within the palace, he wrote: “It wasn’t just bed-hopping that went on in the palaces; there was a degree of inebriation which often helped people’s inhibitions.
“Forget Buckingham Palace, it was nicknamed ‘Gin Palace’ after the spirit that flowed freely through the everyday workings of the building. Gin, always, Gordon’s, was the drink of choice.”
