Sarah Ferguson joined The View in March 2023.Photo:Lou Rocco/ABC via Getty
Lou Rocco/ABC via Getty
Sarah Fergusonis spilling the tea on delicate etiquette!
The Duchess of York, 63, spoke about how to cleverly exit a conversation on the latest episode of her podcastTea Talks with the Duchess and Sarah. The Duchess of York, who is popularly known as Fergie, is well-versed in proper protocol, having attended a slew of royal events while married toPrince Andrewfrom 1986 to 1996. She remains in the royal fold today andsat next to her ex-husbandat the Coronation Concert on May 7.
On Wednesday’s new episode ofTea Talks, Fergie’s co-host Sarah Thomson asked her how to move on at a party without being rude to the other person — which made Fergie laugh out loud.
The author ofA Most Intriguing Ladythen revealed how to swerve a sticky subject.
“If someone asks you a tricky question that you don’t want to answer, say ‘Oh that’s so interesting, I’ll tell you what, I’m going to throw that question to Matilda. Matilda, what do you think about that question?’ And you’ve thrown the ball again,” she said.
In a final etiquette suggestion, Fergie shared a hack for handling three parties in one night — make a brief appearance at each “very loudly!”
“What you do is you walk through the door, go in very loudly and walk all the way around the room. And you’ll be so loud that most people are going, ‘Oh my goodness, it’s so loud.' Then you leave after five minutes, and so the host and everyone will say, “Oh, I didn’t see Sarah tonight.’ And everyone in the room says, “Oh, well we did,’ ” she explained.
The Duchess said being polite was “entrenched” in her and she hoped to pass the value down to her daughters,Princess BeatriceandPrincess Eugenie.
“I always say to my girls, when you’re out on the public stage, smile. If you don’t want to be polite, don’t go out on the public stage — because no one wants to see a grumpy princess,” she told Thompson of the favorite adage. “I think the most important thing is you’ve got to get your game on.”
Princess Beatrice, Sarah Ferguson and Princess Eugenie.David M Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images
In addition to passing manners lessons to her daughter, the Duchess of York was one of the people who helpedMeghan Marklewith herfirst curtsytoQueen Elizabeth.
“And I remember we were in the car and we were driving up and he’s like ‘You know how to curtsy right?’ And I just thought it was a joke,” Meghan said in the Netflix seriesHarry and Meghan.
“How do you explain that to people? How do you explain that you bow to your grandmother and that you would need to curtsy? Especially to an American. That’s weird,” Prince Harry added.
Adding that the momentous meeting was “so intense,” the Duchess of Sussex saidPrincess Eugenie,Jack Brooksbankand Fergie insisted she “did great” after the Queen left, admitting that she now realizes she “didn’t know what I was doing.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2022.Michael M. Santiago/Getty
Michael M. Santiago/Getty
Fergie and her friend launched theirTea Talkspodcast in April and have released a new episode nearly every week since.
According to the show’sSpotifyprofile, audiences can look forward to “candid conversations” from the cohosts “as they spill the tea on the roller coaster of life.”
The show has been home to lighthearted moments and heavier subjects as well. Fergie has spoken about herbreast cancer diagnosisand recuperating after surgery, as well as how Prince Andrew isgrievinghis late parents,Queen ElizabethandPrince Philip.
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The podcaster and author has continued to support her ex-husband despite his step back from public duties when his affiliation withJeffrey Epsteincame to light. In January 2022, the day after a judge rejected Prince Andrew’s attempt to haveVirginia Giuffre’ssexual assault lawsuit against him dismissed, Buckingham Palace announced that Queen Elizabeth hadstripped her sonof his military titles and patronages. The Duke of York would no longer undertake public engagements as a working royal or use the “His Royal Highness” styling.
“With Prince Andrew, he’s such a good man,” Fergie said during an appearance onGood Morning Britainearlier this year. “He’s a kind, good man, and I think the spotlight needs to come off of him and let him get on with his life to rebuild.”
“He’s a very good grandfather,” she added.
source: people.com
