Controversy Leads to Withdrawal of Sarah Ferguson's Children's Book

Post by : Mina Rahman

Sarah Ferguson’s anticipated children’s title, Flora And Fern: Kindness Along The Way, has been removed from sale following a series of delays, according to industry data. Originally set to debut on 9 October, its release was later pushed to 20 November on Amazon, but it is now absent from the platform entirely.

The publisher officially marked the title as “withdrawn from sale,” yet Ferguson's representatives did not provide comments, and New Frontier Publishing has not answered several requests for clarification.

This development comes during a challenging period for Ferguson, who recently lost her duchess title when her ex-husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, gave up his Duke of York title due to his ties with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He has similarly lost his prince title.

Booksellers revealed last month that Flora And Fern's publication date had been altered with no future date set, and no additional updates have been shared since.

While no official explanation has been disclosed regarding the book’s withdrawal, industry analysts surmise that the decision is likely related to ongoing controversies associated with Ferguson. A publishing expert noted that releasing a book under her name at this time would be “poor timing” and suggested the publisher might delay the release for several months, considering the story isn’t time-sensitive.

Questions also arise about Ferguson’s ties with her other publishers. A prominent publishing house that previously released her works refrained from commenting on their future collaboration with her but confirmed that her backlist remains in circulation.

Additionally, Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor are reportedly vacating the Windsor Royal Lodge. While Andrew is likely moving to the King's Sandringham estate in Norfolk, Ferguson's next living arrangements remain unclear. Some reports indicate she may move to Portugal to be with her daughter, Princess Eugenie; however, there has been no comment from her representatives.

Amid these challenges, Ferguson remains engaged in various business endeavors and has a significant publishing history, including children’s books, non-fiction about Queen Victoria, and her memoirs.