Sarah Ferguson has rejected reports that she is close to securing a multimillion-pound deal to publish a tell-all book about the Royal Family.
The former Duchess of York, 66, has reportedly been determined to rebuild her public image, with friends claiming she hopes to be forgiven and welcomed back by the public.
However, her spokesman has denied that she has any plans to release a memoir.
Ferguson is said to be facing financial pressure and has reportedly told friends that she has done nothing wrong and was unfairly criticised over her links to Jeffrey Epstein and the controversy involving her former husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
The claims emerged as Earl Spencer’s memoir about his sister, Diana, serialised in Our News Outlet, continues to cause shockwaves within the Royal Family. The Sun reported last night that Ferguson was preparing to write her own explosive account.
According to the newspaper, a chapter-by-chapter outline had already been prepared using detailed notes about several key royal figures and controversial subjects, including Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, King Charles, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Epstein.
Ferguson responded with a rare public denial.
“Sarah Ferguson is not close to signing a multi-million dollar book deal as has been reported,” her spokesman said. “She has no plans to write any tell-all memoir.”
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson with their daughters, Princess Beatrice, left, and Princess Eugenie
Ferguson is reportedly returning to the UK after spending seven months travelling around Europe
The former Duchess of York is also said to be keen to give her side of the story about her relationship with Epstein. The renewed interest follows the release of US files detailing the extent of their association, while speculation has also circulated about a potentially lucrative television interview in America.
Emails showed that Ferguson accepted at least £115,000 from Epstein after he had been convicted of soliciting sex from girls as young as 14. In 2009, just days after his release from prison, she also took their daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, to visit him.
In messages described as highly flattering, Ferguson called Epstein her “supreme friend” and “the brother I have always wished for”. Epstein, in turn, paid off her debts.
Before Ferguson’s denial, a source told The Sun: “Sarah wants to set the record straight about everything and earn some money to resolve her financial issues.
“There has been a secret bidding war and a deal is close to being secured.
“The notes are compelling and the bidders are excited.
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“Fergie is ever the optimist and believes she can be forgiven and welcomed back.”
Another source close to Ferguson said she had received “a number of deals”, although no direct discussions had taken place with US publishing houses.
Ferguson has spent the past seven months abroad, keeping a low profile during the continuing controversy over Epstein. She has been seen in several parts of Europe, including Switzerland and Austria.
She is now understood to be returning to Britain, where she will rent a six-bedroom home in a gated Home Counties community for £10,000 a month.
A source said: ‘She’s had her eyes on a return for some time, but it takes time to find the right new house. She hasn’t had to worry about accommodation for 20 years as she had Royal Lodge with Andrew.
‘Now’s the right time to get back to her life.’
Fergie’s return to British soil comes hot on the heels of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who moved back to the UK with their young family after six years in California.
Epstein, left, was a convicted sex offender when he helped bail out Ms Ferguson
Removal vans picking up her belongings have been spotted at her ex-husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s, home in Sandringham.
Andrew and Fergie were both stripped of their royal titles last October by King Charles following intense public scrutiny about the former Duke of York’s friendship with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Fergie was evicted from Royal Lodge along with Andrew, where they lived for 18 years, in February this year.
During her time crisscrossing Europe, Fergie was spotted at a £2,000-a-night spa in Austria and at a Swiss Alpine chalet in Verbier owned by her late former lover Paddy McNally.
Meanwhile, Andrew remains under a police investigation over his links to Epstein.
He was arrested in February accused of misconduct in a public office.
The former Duke denies any wrongdoing.
