Fergie's Fine for Excess Luggage
Sarah Ferguson, former Duchess of York, was known for her extravagant spending, including an astonishing £515 teddy bear she bought but could not legally bring home on a flight.
Excess Luggage Incident
After marrying Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, her lavish lifestyle escalated. Soon after, she was fined nearly £1,000 for carrying over fifty pieces of excess luggage on a first-class flight from New York. The luggage contained approximately £33,000 worth of items purchased during her trip, including the costly teddy bear.
“Not even Joan Collins has this much,”
a Heathrow baggage handler remarked at the time, highlighting the scale of her purchases.
Financial Spending
Her financial advisor, John Bryan, revealed she was spending more than £860,000 annually. This amount covered £150,000 on gifts, £50,000 on flowers, and another £50,000 on parties. The palace did not disclose who covered these expenses.
Background Before Royal Marriage
Before marrying into royalty, Sarah had typical upper-class jobs, including cleaning ski chalets and working at a publishing company.
“I cleaned lavatories when I was 18 and graduates' bedrooms; they all left it very messy. And then the waitress in a strudel house.”
— Sarah Ferguson, on the Swedish television show Skavlan
Author's summary: Sarah Ferguson's extravagant spending, including a costly teddy bear and excessive luggage fees, reflects a lavish lifestyle far beyond typical royal norms.