Well, after listening to the whole book, I still find Sarah, the duchess of York, to be a liability

Thank you for reading this so that I didn't have to. I find Sarah irritating, childish, and rather pompous. A bit like her ex!

For me, she really dug her own grave when she got caught selling access to Andrew for £500,000. I mean, can you get any lower than that? For me, there is no possible way back after that class act. No wonder Prince Philip couldn't stand her.

God, what bilge. Does Sarah not mention that in her divorce settlement she was given £500K specifically to buy herself a house, plus an additional £350K cash? In 1996 this would have got her something very much more appropriate than a 2-bed lodge with an outside loo, I can assure you!

I agree with everything you have said about Sarah, her living in Royal Lodge and her being brought back into the fold. She is a total embarrassment and hasn't learned a thing.

Oh my God😱 that quote about the diplomatic passport and working for the UN is horrifying. Imagine the damage she would have done on the world stage!! Its also convenient to blame the men in grey suits when things go wrong for you. Strange how she didnt name her american friend who immediately rescued the damsel in financial distress. 🤔 Diplomatic passport = IPP status. 🤔 = No convictions

Suddenly Sarah forgot her friendship with Epstein.

For 44 years I have followed the British Royal family. I have never had anyone to talk to about them. Your channel has been absolutely a godsend! Thank you for being so delightful to watch. ❤

Completely agree with you about Sarah’s lack of judgment, also Andrew’s. Neither of them have got any wiser as they’ve grown older.

Sarah is just classless and embarrassing. The RF should distance themselves from her as she just never learns.

I dont trust her

QEII and Prince Philip certainly had their hands full with the next 2 generations of grifters!

I get the impression that the RF under Philip and Elizabeth was a product of the emotional expectations of the time. Sarah and others didn't really understand that "Much is expected of those to whom much has been given". My own parents were ultra patriotic and affected by WW2. "Careless talk costs lives" was part of the propaganda of those generations. It was more difficult to live up to those old values as social freedoms developed in the post-war decades.

Sarah is a fine example of why Royals always married Royals in the past 😂

In a way I was going to be excited that Fergie would be with the RFmfor Christmas. But what a disappointment as you could see on their walk to church thatSarah hadnt grown up at all! As one spectator said, “she looked like a linebacker” running around and over exaggerating! I guess some never grow up.

Kiwi here. Gosh, I so love your delightful, utterly refreshing analysis of absolutely everything. You are so sensible! And funny!

Thank you for enduring that for us Shauna. As a former English Teacher the style and content of that book strikes me as a wayward individual's attempt to present herself as the 'family kluz' thereby absolving herself from all future criticism for 'missteps' and expectations of propriety and mature behaviour befitting the daughter-in-law of the Queen and mother to the Queen's grandchildren! I have to agree with you, having painted herself as the family member who only opens her mouth to either insert the other foot as well, or to change feet, she shouldn't be trusted with clost proximity to the working royals.

If she had not married into the RF, Sarah may still be happily married. Silence and decorum were never her greatest assets. 😂👍🇦🇺

I am amazed how quickly commoners get used to Royal privileges after only a few months and when separated or divorced think they should still have the still have the same privileges and that the Royal Family owes them

The difference between Sarah and Harry is that he goes on the world stage to attack family, Sarah does it covertly and gets paid imho.I think keeping alot of opposite s%x friendships is not good for a marriage. She is not ev@l but frivolous and conniving imho. Before housekeepers dairy I viewed her differently. The fact that she visited Diana's home in her absence and harrassed her staff is abit off for me.

Here’s my Sarah story: in 2012-2013 I was living in Manhattan, in the apt building where Jeffrey Epstein’s models stayed. (Of course I didn’t know this at the time. Seeing all those pretty faces, I just thought the building was attracting a rather fancy crowd and congratulated myself on beating the crowds of hipsters that were sure to swarm the rental offices.) One day I happened to notice that all the doormen were looking quite spiffy in their full uniforms. Even wearing their caps, which they rarely did. I was told it was bc Sarah, the Duchess of York was staying in one of the furnished apts owned by Epstein. During those 2 years I saw her several times, coming and going in the lobby. But I always knew she was visiting bc of the doormen in full kit.

Spot on as usual! I think she's at Royal Lodge as a beard for him, a bit of a grift for herself, and perhaps the worst thing about it is that they may be conning their daughters "it's us versus everyone else". It's very difficult to have embarrassing parents, but the time has to come when you might need to separate love from respect in order to live your own life with honesty. I doubt Sarah or Andrew has ever admitted they've done anything wrong to themselves or anyone else. The Queen lived her faith and forgave her. Bless her memory.

Shauna I have always thought the Yorks are very Shady, and I mean All of the Yorks!! Great Book Review👍👍👍

Thanks Shauna, Hmm, there is a huge flavour to me of 'recollections may vary' about Fergie's book. Over dramatic, rather thoughtless and very self indulgent. Personally I would not give her much of a free pass or let her get too close.

I’m a ginger and about 5 years older than Sarah. I’ll say it, it wasn’t easy growing up red. I was so hopeful when Fergie came on the scene! I thought, finally, another red who will look good and be a supporting member of the RF. But it was not to be, and now not only Fergie, but Whinger is on the scene and causing such pain. I guess being “red on the head” will never have a peaceful life. But again, I choose to be happy 😁

Loved the review. I think Sarah sounds very self centred, needy, immature, hard work and very blinkered about the implications of her actions. Why are people like her, which 100% includes Harry and Meghan, totally unable to appreciate how fortunate they are and are never happy or content with their lot. Sarah has breezed through life acting the fool expecting everyone else to be responsible for her. I can’t feel sympathy for someone who had everything but due to her own stupidity blew it. I agree with you in that I think the RF have made a mistake by bringing Sarah back into the fold. She is not trustworthy and will take full advantage of this new status. She loves money, status and living the high life at someone else’s expense. That leopard will not change her spots

I always knew that Sara was a bungalow , nothing upstairs, but after this book ... holy Molly, she is ...... I mean poor Queen

So correct. Poor Fergie is a mess, she had a horrid childhood should have spent years with a shrink. The Poor Queen was so brave putting up with these wives…gads.

Sarah and Diana exhaust me. I've had my share of experiencing drama queens and all I can say is they live you drained and more appreciative of level headed people. I commend the royal family for their patience, actually.

Thank you for your honest assessment of Sarah, Duchess of York. She may have had a traumatic childhood but many of us had a horrible childhood but we have risen above it to become responsible and respectful adults. When I think of how Sarah and Meghan have disrespected the royal family, after they were both welcomed and embraced, it boggles my mind. If I had the privilege of marrying into that family I would be so grateful. I wouldn’t want to be stuck with Harry or Andrew though. 😃 The rich and abundant history of the family itself, the architecture, art, the jewels! I would immerse myself with the richness of my surroundings and learn all that I could! I am a patriotic American with roots going back to the Revolutionary War but I would be so grateful to be part of the British royal family and I would devote my life to making my adopted country and the family proud. What a wasted opportunity. Meghan wanted no part of it, just the titles and privilege. Such a shame.

I entirely agree with your opinion. Her actions belie her opinions about herself as she expressed. Yes, she may not have broadcast her views of the RF. She has been so much more subtle in her criticism. And she still uses her title on her numerous books. Who is she kidding?

I agree with your assessment. I'm Charles' age and remember all this junk. Sarah struck me as a show-off and untrustworthy. Does she really think anyone will believe she was told to live in a 2 bedroom with no indoor plumbing? Puleez. She had no money? Couldn't rent a cold water flat? 😫 Just another poor me victim narrative with no accountability. It's all the rage here in the US. Maybe she should have kept her toes in her shoes.

Shauna that Royal blue looks great on you....!!!🎉

Just shows how entitled and privileged she was that she drove her children to school herself (so brave and wonderful of her) so that they wouldn’t be taken off her. Most people take their kids to school anyway, unless they start work earlier and then they take them to a breakfast club or child minder. Catherine and William always take their kids to school

I thoroughly enjoyed your synopsis of this book and I look forward to the next book review. I also completely agree with your final assessment of Sarah. Regards from Montreal 🇨🇦.

Not trying to deflect blame from Sarah, because she obviously spent like a drunk sailor on leave, but there is one incident which always left me thinking... "how much did Andrew enable her behaviour". The incident is question is when she tried to sell an interview with Andrew for 1/2 million dollars. At the time the press jumped on her, rightly so, but I cant help thinking Andrew was behind her supporting this sort of money grabbing behaviour. Just a random thought. Great video and review as always

Perhaps Fergie was allowed back into Royal Lodge for the sake of the two girls. By being there, Beatrice and Eugenie could be closer to their grandparents and the Queen and Prince Phillip would have some influence in their upbringing.

I remember reading that Joan Rivers, who was very friendly with Charles, said after Diana’s interview with Bashir: didn’t she know it was an arranged marriage ? My response to that was “no.” Diana was 19 and probably believed in the fairy tale . Coming from a broken home , she was also saw in Charles someone who would never divorce her , as that would be unacceptable in his position ( at the time).

I completely agree. I've always thought they could be kind to Sarah, but from a distance.

The tabloids should have paid her bills. They made millions off her.

You are so right Shauna, Sarah has very carefully milked the royal family.. She has not caused too many ripples in the family that the duo overseas have caused yet what good has she done? They must be firm with her and make sure she is slowly but surely made to go away and live her life in the shade. Will the King do it? Not a chance but I believe he will regret it. Underneath her scatty demeanor is a very cunning lady, in my opinion. She admits to her silliness ONLY when she is caught out. £500K a pop for access to Andrew? And she was upset that she was recorded doing it. A case of 'oh! silly me, what was I thinking?' Yeah right, she knows exactly what she's doing.

People are not black and white. She had a bad childhood, and you can feel sorry for her, and equally she can be indiscreet and a bit of a bull in a china shop. I'm not a fan, but I can sympathise with a lot of her behavior

Thanks Shauna. Well I have not changed my mind on our Sarah. Drama queen! 🤣

Sarah wanted to be like Diana, hence the spending. Neither women showed good judgement. Thanks for your interesting and well researched views ❤ from Queensland

Um... there's no way she was chosen to replace Audrey Hepburn. In my opinion. No way.

I listened to a interview that Sarah gave on some talk show and they asked her about her living with the PA ....she said she is a guest.....LOL long time guest I guess .....I think Sarah is a very grandiose character in her own head. Even though I do have some sympathy for her ............ she made her bed as the saying goes .......... Oh my Sarah such a complex person. Thanks for the review Shauna enjoyed immensely see you till next time...Cheers.

After listening to your review of this book and the Housekeeper’s Diary, I get the impression Sarah is one of those people who loves to pull a joke on someone at that person’s expense. Definitely someone who can’t be trusted. There’s a cruel streak that many people don’t recognize at first. Her treatment of staff when she was a guest at Highgrove was very telling of who she is behind the public face.

Excellent review Shauna. ❤

❤your blue top is a gorgeous colour 💙

Hmm 🤔. Won’t say too much but you can see her influence in lack of style hands down to her daughters, though thy are much improving now. Beatrice especially. Sarah could t keep a secret for anything. I’d b careful of trusting her. She mentioned the Lodge with the outside facilities but, perhaps , that comment was made facetiously because she was given money to purchase a home for herself and the girls, cash as well ( but I don’t remember how much) and the queen paid off her sizeable Debts out of her private money. She ‘forgot’ those details. So much can be made by omitting things, changes the whole story. Things many others do as well. 🙏🙏👵🇦🇺

I admire Sarah's achievements. She has succeeded as an author in many fields, learned how to fly a helicopter and got her wings, has travelled across deserts on horse and pulled heavy weights trekking over snow. She represented Weight Watchers for years, wrote several Weight Watchers books, produced a film, about Queen Victoria, 2 Princesses and walked with a Queen. She has done a lot for charity over the decades, never wavered in her loyalty to Prince Andrew. She is the first woman to suvive a Royal divorce and still be on good terms with the family. That is the pinnacle of her achievements in history.

Well Shauna, this book has been fun but I’m soooo glad it’s finally over!!!! 😂 I appreciate you read it so I didn’t have to. Fergie is Fergie and summed up in a nutshell she is over the top and tiresome. I think she has somewhat damaged those girls of hers and I am hopeful that now they are married and away they can begin to realize she has never had their best interest at heart but only her own. She is manipulative and spiteful. The less I see of her the better. She and that husband of hers should retire quietly and stay out of the photos of the RF.

Yorks are a strange breed

I agree with you about Sarah after listening to this review. I also think its a mistake having her around the private royal occasions. I dont think She ever learnt how to behave properly. I still cant get over throwing a typewriter out of the window. For some reason thats really bothered me. Maybe because thats the first dreadful thing I heard that she did.

I heartily agree with your summary of Sarah also of her renewed position in the RF. The Andrew situation would normally the business of the people involved. Unfortunately, when you are in the most famous and scrutinised family in the world, your behaviour has to be exemplary.

I never knew much about her and never looked into it. Thank you Shauna, you made it interesting. I dont know why these women get involved then complain about royal rules. There surely is a way of being happy.

I remember seeing those photos in our papers and overseas too! We were horrified!!

I surprise myself over my attitude toward Sarah's mother. She was slightly cold with the children, but that was probably how she was brought up. She was a young, vibrant woman married to an old goat. The negligence and his affairs must have been draining. It was horrible to leave her child and run off with another man, but just like Diana's mother she must have been at the end of her rope.

Imo I think King Charle's is now trying to dislodge both Prince Andrew and Sarah from Crown land. They have been sponging off everyone for years. They are takers, not givers. I dislike both their daughters as well and King Charle's has been wise to keep them at arm's length.

Did h and mm read Sarah's book. Seems like they copy of a lot of her antics

Great book review...I come away from it all feeling Prince Philip was spot on about Sarah.

May I suggest that all those who suffered the misery of ever knowing her , eventually dropped her like a hot potato because of her struggle with the truth and her capacity for outrageous exaggeration ? No longer do many people believe a word she says or trust her .Shes down in amongst the “penny dreadfuls” now . Imo

I recently watched an interview (available on KZfaq) that Sarah did last year at the 92Y in New York City to promote her last book. She seemed a bit careful throughout the interview not to divulge too much about the royal family even as the interviewer attempted to draw more juicy gossip out of her. It has been reported that her cancer diagnosis has bonded her closer to King Charles as they both battle the disease, and I suspect that she is exercising great care in ensuring that she does not do anything that could jeopardize that special relationship in the future. Thanks, Shauna, for your entertaining review of Sarah My Story. I have enjoyed every episode, and I can't wait to see what you have planned next!

Hi Shauna. Loved your review of this book. I found it enlightening in parts but I'm afraid my suspicions of Sarah and my dislike of her behaviour over the years has not changed. She has never been a good judge of character - either her own, PA's or others. Money has always been a driving factor for her IMO. As to her living at Royal Lodge, how many ex's still cohab? Grifting again! I dont trust her, find nothing to admire in her and really wish the RF would maintain their distance - no need for total ostracism but also no need to encourage any closer relationship. Merching off her title! Thanks for great review. You really get to the heart of things. 😊

I honestly think this book was part of the blueprint for H&M's future plans. So many things Sarah says to make herself the poor victim could have come straight from M herself.

You need to watch The Royal Grift, Meghan’s Jam O’Gram. She explains the white dog, biscuits, and raspberry jam. MM is disgusting.

I know who the American friend is. He was an American living in London and was not a financial manager but ran a marketing company - he represented her for her book deals and rebranding herself. I worked with him when I was at the UN and he told me he had taken her on.

Hi Shauna. I’m kinda glad this book is done. I realize I have complex views on Sara Ferguson that has everything to do with the photos. It intrigues me how paranoid of the men in grey and the Firm she was and it reminds me of Harry’s paranoia as well. Just interesting.

I think royal family knew Andrew and sarah only saprated because she wanted to make money by using her title that's way she didn't get much in settlement.

I think she is and always has been a bit of a grifter. The rumour is the Prince Andrews involvement with G E was because of his ex wifes debt allegedly,tho i think Andrew's dodgy .

Your saying about just giving us the juice from the last few chapters is the perfect analogy for these series that you do: you're juicing the books. Just giving us the distilled essence, minus any dry bits or the layers of peel the author tries to put over it.

Totally agree with your summary of the book 🇦🇺🦘💐🐨🩷💛❤️

Spot on Shauna ❤

Thanks Shauna. I like your summary at the end, what You think.

Could not agree with you more, Shauna. Thank you for this reading. ❤

I used to give Sarah the benefit of the doubt but not anymore, she is beyond the pale. FYI John Bryan was friendly with Richard Kay.

That was such a fabulous book series! I loved it. In the final analysis, I’m 100% with you on Sarah (gosh, needy much?!). You’re a bright button Shauna and I look forward to the next book. BTW: Did you hear Sarah’s going to visit us here in Australia 🫥?

I feel exactly like you Shauna, I never took to her back in the 80’s, or Diana. I really liked the Monaco Princess’s Caroline and Stephanie, as I loved their style and clothes.😊

I agree with you Shawna. Sarah was never an asset to the BRF. She muddled everything up and still does. I remember an interview she did with Oprah after her marriage ended and it was very unflattering to the monarchy.

Thank you for these episodes about Sarah’s book. It has been very interesting. You make all of your episodes exciting and worth listening to.

Thankyou Shauna, enjoyed the live, went to press the like button and ended up out of chat. I agree with your final analysis. How many people get to live of their ex in laws. Many people have horrendous childhoods.

I've been following the big Royal weddings since Princess Anne married Captain Mark Phillips. Fergie really disgusted me during her wedding when she acted like a fool by mugging and yukking it up during the speaking part of the ceremony. But, something you said really rang a bell with me as I see her as two separate people. One that I think is a fool with self-inflicted wounds and the other as an admirable person who does things that I do like. It may be an unpopular opinion, but I love that she and Andrew have stayed such good friends, and that she lives with him at the lodge. She is the mother of his daughters, who are legitimate princesses. Andrew and Sarah are the king and queen of bad choices, but I think that they have both paid for their bad choices. It's odd to me that neither of them seemed to have any serious, long term relationships after they divorced. There was nothing to stop them. In any case, I know how you feel when you read a memoir and feel the need to shower afterwards LOL so to speak. I've read a few wonderful ones, but others are like - yuk.

Sarah seems to have manipulated quite a comfortable half-in-half-out for herself, really. She doesn't have all the media scrutiny, but can get paid for doing American talk shows and can write books. She has a whole wing of a royal palace and the benefit of being associated with the royal family without any royal duties. She appears to have learned from life experience to take what she can get and not to live with integrity.

Your summing up of her is spot on, in my opinion.

Sarah loves playing the martyr.

I was well known that if Sarah walked into a room Prince Philip would walk out, that's one reason I don't think the Palace was behind the JB photos.

I love your book reviews! 😂

Brilliant analysis and critique!

Shauna, I am rolling my eyes! OMG!

I agree with your summation Shauna.

Thank you. You made this far more entertaining than the first time i read the book

I definitely don’t believe her. She is very much alike prince Andrew.

I really dislike flowery language and outgrew Barbara Cartland by twelve, so I don't think I'll read the book; but I certainly found it fascinating and I found your reading highly entertaining. To be honest, I was happy to see Fergie going to church with the family. I see Sarah as a silly, self sabotaging but likeable woman and I don't think she is malicious. I remember Sarah when she first came into the RF and I remember the horific and cruel things the media said calling her "the Duchess of Pork" . I liked her much better than Diana in the early days. I thought both she and Diana pulled silly immature pranks and found the behaviour very tiresome, but the treatment of Fergie by the RF and the public and press after her " fall from grace" was appalling. I feel that Sarah has made an honest attempt over the years to support herself and her children, and at times, she has supported Andrew. Her books may not be to my taste but she at least wrote them herself, and I have heard her books on Queen Victoria are very good. I think the Yorks were loving and supportive parents to their daughters, and I respect that. They did not hide Beatrice's dyslexia or Eugenie's scoliosis and worked with the girls' doctors and tutors. They certainly never sought to trade off the girls' disabilities and it was handled in a sensible matter of fact manner. I also respect and appreciate Andrew's heroism in the Falklands War which very few people remember. A few of those who have served under him have come forward and said that he was a good senior officer and not the pompous dolt that others have painted him. The couple's open marriage and easy morals make me queasy and I wish the details had remained private. My mother used to talk about the affairs of the royal family and their scandals and the Society scandals of her youth which were well known and discussed by the general public, so I have always known how Royal and Aristocratic marriages are conducted. Although I thought that Mum exaggerated the veniality and was " down" on them because her own life was so hard and poor in comparison. It turns out she was very astute and accurate in relaying the details of the various scandals including Mountbatten- but she never explained exactly what was wrong about him and Edwina. Overall, I'd say that Sarah is a product of her upbringing, schooling and social position. She's an accident prone " Hooray Henry" who goes at life like a bull in a china shop and has a huge sense of entitlement. Over the years, her gaffs have given me hours of entertainment so I can not dislike her.

Shauna, thank you for this very interesting book summary. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. My opinion- I do have sympathy for her plight growing up. I believe that caused damage to her as an adult. But some of her decisions were so blatantly irresponsible that it is frustrating. And unfortunately she is still making some of the same poor choices. Thanks again Shauna!

I heard Sarah speak at a Weight Watchers meeting. She was much prettier and taller in person. However, Sarah came across as a phony.

It’s like reading spare all over again! The correlation is amazing, now either H or M read this book! It’s very understandable the closeness of H and the Yorks. The bad influence , misinformation and revenge on the Royal family started with miss S. Didn’t she do an Oprah interview also! Trusting this family ,who seem to be full of bitterness, would be unwise. Also the other relatives in the USA.

I just absobloomin love your channel and comments. Thank you 🤩

She is a bit of an Air head she will never change. 💕💕

Funny that Sarah’s downfall was photographs of her getting her toes kissed, and the photo on the book cover has Sarah covered up except for her feet😂

I feel very sorry for Beatrice and Eugenie, what an embarrassment both parents have turned out to be.