Fergie's Massive Fine for Excess Luggage
Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, was known for her extravagant spending habits, including an astonishing £515 spent on a teddy bear she couldn’t technically bring home on a flight.
Excess Luggage Incident
Shortly after marrying Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, then known as Prince Andrew, Fergie was fined nearly £1,000 for carrying more than fifty pieces of excess luggage on a first-class flight from New York. The luggage contained items worth around £33,000, with the teddy bear among them.
“Not even Joan Collins has this much,” a Heathrow baggage handler remarked about her luggage.
The palace chose not to disclose who covered the cost of Sarah’s expenses on that occasion.
Annual Spending Revealed
Sarah's financial advisor, John Bryan, found that she was spending over £860,000 annually. This amount included £150,000 on gifts, £50,000 on flowers, and £50,000 on parties.
Background and Early Jobs
Before her marriage, Sarah had a typically upper-class working history, beginning with menial jobs. She told the Swedish TV show Skavlan about her early work:
“I cleaned lavatories when I was 18 and graduates' bedrooms; they all left it very messy. And then I was a waitress in a strudel house.”
Her background included cleaning ski chalets and working in publishing prior to entering royal life.
Author's Summary
Sarah Ferguson’s lavish spending and financial habits showcased a contrast between her modest early jobs and later extravagant lifestyle.
Would you like the summary to be more formal or casual?