Fergie's Lavish Spending and Excess Luggage Fine
The former Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, was famously extravagant, once spending an astonishing £515 on a teddy bear she could not technically fly home. After marrying Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, her tendency for lavish spending escalated dramatically.
Excess Luggage Incident
Shortly after marrying Prince Andrew, Sarah Ferguson was fined nearly £1,000 for carrying over fifty pieces of excess luggage on a first-class flight from New York. The luggage contained items worth approximately £33,000, including the expensive teddy bear.
“Not even Joan Collins has this much,” said a Heathrow baggage handler at the time.
The palace did not disclose who covered the expenses for this incident.
Impressive Spending Habits
Sarah's financial advisor, John Bryan, revealed she spent over £860,000 annually. This included £150,000 on gifts, £50,000 on flowers, and another £50,000 on parties.
Early Work Experience
Before marriage, Sarah had a typical upper-class girl’s work history, including cleaning ski chalets and working at a publishing company. She shared on the Swedish TV show Skavlan about her early jobs:
- “I cleaned lavatories when I was 18 and graduates' bedrooms; they all left it very messy.”
- “And then the waitress in a strudel house.”
Author’s Summary
Sarah Ferguson's extravagant lifestyle included a record fine for excess luggage and yearly expenses exceeding £860,000, highlighting her penchant for luxury and excess.