2 months ago
A royal scandal.
Natalie Dormer’s newest series, “The Lady,” dramatizes nan existent communicative of Sarah Ferguson’s relationship pinch her erstwhile royal dresser Jane Andrews, who was convicted of murdering her boyfriend, Tom Cressman, successful 2001.
Allan Starkie, a erstwhile friend and confidant of nan erstwhile Duchess of York, describes her relationship pinch Andrews — who worked for Fergie from 1988 to 1997 — arsenic “a boss-servant relationship.”
The “A Date With Death” author exclusively tells Page Six that Andrews, played by Mia McKenna-Bruce connected nan caller BritBox series, was “very meek and deferential to nan Duchess” erstwhile he first met her.
“She really followed protocol successful nan measurement she addressed nan Duchess, and would curtsy whenever she would spot her,” he explains.
However, arsenic clip went on, he claims that Andrews “began to insinuate herself much into nan Duchess’s life” and tried to “improve and fortify her narration pinch nan Duchess.”
According to Starkie, successful 1994, Ferguson “essentially [made Andrews] lawman main financial officer, which was astonishing. I mean, Jane had nary inheritance successful this. At that point, Jane had benignant of power among nan unit members, and moreover almost a individual relationship [with Ferguson].”
Starkie, whose five-year relationship pinch Ferguson allegedly collapsed complete a business fallout successful 1996, tells america nan erstwhile Duchess “had galore personalities. I utilized to telephone her nan chameleon, and she liked that.”
“[Ferguson] could beryllium very strict [and] reprimand her servants if they didn’t dainty her properly. She could besides beryllium overly friendly,” he adds.
Starkie first met Ferguson done his friend and business partner, John Bryan, whose narration pinch nan royal was famously exposed successful 1992 erstwhile nan Daily Mirror published scandalous photos of him sucking her toes successful France.
At nan time, she was still married, but separated from ex-Prince Andrew, whom she wed successful 1986. The mates welcomed 2 daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, earlier officially divorcing successful 1996.
After that scandal, Starkie explains, “Sarah didn’t want to beryllium seen pinch John publicly, though he had planned connected accompanying her connected a batch of kindness trips and investigation trips for a book that she wanted to write. And so, he asked maine if I would measurement successful for him.”
In “The Lady,” Ferguson is shown arsenic emotion alienated by nan royals and besieged by nan antagonistic press, causing her to confide successful Andrews. Starkie, meantime is not portrayed connected nan bid astatine all.
For conscionable complete 4 years, Starkie traveled pinch Ferguson and nan duo worked connected respective business endeavors together. It was during that time, he became acquainted pinch Andrews.
Starkie claims that astatine 1 constituent Andrews “developed a large crush” connected him and was encouraged by Ferguson to prosecute her.
He says he raised concerns astir Andrews’ behaviour to Fergie and Bryan astatine nan time, but they remained focused connected her making love life.
“Sarah thought that Jane mightiness beryllium a bully narration for me,” Starkie tells us. “Sarah wasn’t crazy astir nan woman I was making love astatine nan time, and possibly thought that Jane could usage a small spot of a boost.”
He notes that Andrews, during this time, was joined to her first hubby Christopher Dunn-Butler, whom she divided successful 1995 earlier her narration pinch Cressman began.
“The truth that Sarah and John some encouraged maine [to prosecute Andrews] was odd,” Starkie says.
Ferguson, 66, did not instantly respond to aggregate requests for comment. In 1996, erstwhile Starkie published his different book, “Fergie: Her Secret Life,” a spokesperson for nan erstwhile Duchess called his claims “ludicrous.”
Andrews killed Cressman, played by Ed Speleers successful nan show, by hitting him pinch a cricket bat and stabbing him pinch a weapon aft an statement successful 2000, years aft she ended her moving narration pinch Ferguson.
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During nan execution investigation, Starkie says he was interviewed by Scotland Yard, nan FBI and Interpol.
“They said, ‘You dodged a slug pinch that one,’” he recalls. “Clearly, I did. It’s 1 of nan reasons why I didn’t promote her successful immoderate way.”
He adds, “There was a weird, brooding strength astir her.”
By nan clip nan execution proceedings happened, Starkie was nary longer successful interaction pinch Ferguson, truthful they ne'er discussed it, he says.
In September, pursuing caller revelations astir Ferguson’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein, Dormer announced that she wouldn’t beforehand “The Lady” and would donate her net to charity.
“Since completing nan project, caller accusation has travel to ray that makes it intolerable for maine to reconcile my values pinch Sarah Ferguson’s behavior, which I judge is inexcusable,” Dormer told The Post successful a connection astatine nan time.
Starkie thinks nan “Game of Thrones” actress’s stance shows that she’s “a personification of principle. I respect Natalie for doing that.”
Meanwhile, Andrews served her situation condemnation from 2001 to 2019, and is now free.
During her clip down bars, Starkie claims he received letters from her asking astir his income and royalties for his book astir nan case, “A Date With Death.”
“I deliberation she was trying to find this out, because she felt she should beryllium my partner,” he opines. “I didn’t reply her.”
If he saw her again, he says, “I wouldn’t beryllium fearful, but I would beryllium uncomfortable.”
“The Lady” is now streaming connected BritBox. New episodes of nan four-part bid are retired connected Wednesdays.
