Fergie’s plot to clone the Queen’s corgis for reality TV: Just when you thought ex-Duchess couldn’t sink any lower, we reveal the extraordinary plan to sell genetic replicas of the monarch’s beloved pets

Cash-strapped Sarah Ferguson was in talks to clone the late Queen’s beloved corgis for an offbeat reality TV show, The Mail on Sunday has revealed.

Described by Hollywood producers as a ‘bold and controversial business venture’, the unsavory idea involved the former Duchess of York trying to make money by selling genetically cloned corgis to ‘other dog lovers around the world’.

Pet cloning is a highly controversial topic, and experts warn that it could lead to horrific abnormalities.

But given cloned dogs often sell for up to £75,000 in the US, where the process is legal, it could be lucrative.

In May 2023, Fergie was looking to capitalize on what little she had left of her royal status when the idea of ​​making money from corgis Muick and Sandy was floated. He was entrusted with their care following the Queen’s death eight months ago.

After speaking to a number of TV companies in the US, he met with executives from Halcyon Studios in Los Angeles for a series of lunches and dinners.

‘He was pushing to get back into TV and make some money,’ a source said. ‘He came up with the idea of ​​exhibiting the Queen’s corgis in a show. And that included the idea of ​​raising them. ‘As strange as it sounds, the idea of ​​cloning them has been discussed.’

While it is not legal in the UK for a company to produce replica animals outside of research settings, it is legal to send a skin sample from an animal to the US to be cloned.

The late Queen was photographed with her beloved corgis in 1980. The Queen bequeathed two corgis to Ms Ferguson in her will

The source close to the negotiations added: ‘There have been Zoom meetings and email exchanges with television staff. At one point he wanted to include what he called his “team.”

‘Sarah seemed ready for anything, provided she was paid; Especially if he can travel a bit in the process and meet wealthy aristocrats who might want to own a corgi.’ In this case, the project was abandoned.

On Saturday night, royal writer Richard Fitzwilliams said it was ‘incredibly strange and deeply bizarre to even consider cloning the late Queen’s beloved dogs for financial gain’.

After speaking with Ms. Ferguson, producers put together a synopsis detailing how the reality cloning show would unfold.

It read: ‘When Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, inherits two of the Queen’s beloved corgis, she decides to embark on a bold and controversial business venture: cloning the royal pups.

‘But as she navigates the complex world of genetics and royal protocol, Sarah will also have to grapple with her own personal demons and her strained relationship with the royal family.’

He adds that Fergie’s income was ‘significantly affected’ by King Charles’ decision to cut Andrew’s allowance after the Queen’s death.

The summary continued: ‘Fergie was thrilled to learn she was remembered in the Queen’s will, but was surprised to learn that the Queen had left her two of her beloved Corgis rather than jewelery or money.

Fergie’s income ‘significantly affected’ by King Charles’ decision to cut Andrew’s allowance after the Queen’s death

‘At 63, Fergie finds herself, like many other people, facing a dramatic change in economic outlook later in life; needs to make money!’ The idea of ​​cloning is then mentioned.

Cloning involves taking DNA from adult cells and inserting it into an egg that has had its own genetic material removed. The embryo is then grown in a surrogate mother to produce a dog genetically identical to the original.

It often takes several unsuccessful attempts before a healthy animal is obtained, which means that several abnormal offspring may have been created in the process.

The synopsis tells how Fergie will start a company to clone and sell animals. It says: ‘Fergie, with the help of a team of scientists and investors, is starting a company called The Queen’s Corgis, which aims to clone the Queen’s Corgis and sell them to other dog lovers around the world.

‘But as Fergie dives deeper into the world of genetics and cloning, she realizes her business venture is not without controversy… As the series progresses, viewers will be taken on a journey into the fascinating world of genetics and cloning, as well as the inner workings of the royal family.

‘They will witness the ups and downs of Fergie’s business venture and see how her determination and resilience are put to the test.

‘But ultimately, they will be left with a sense of hope and wonder as they witness the incredible bond between people and animals and the enduring legacy of the Queen’s beloved corgis.’

In a separate synopsis of an alternative docu-series, producers outlined how Fergie would immerse herself in the ‘high-society world of dog breeding’ and embrace her new role ‘as a corgis champion’.

The possibility of cloning dogs was discussed a few months after Muick and Sandy, whom Andrew gave to Prince Philip to help his mother while he was in hospital in 2021, were taken to Queen Elizabeth’s funeral.

In April 2023, Fergie admitted she sought the help of a ‘dog whisperer’ after becoming worried about ‘grieving’ corgis.

Later, on the first anniversary of the Queen’s death, Ms Ferguson shared a photo of herself with the dogs on social media with the caption: ‘As we mourn a year later, we also celebrate the wonderful times we shared with the late Queen.

‘He entrusted me with the care of his corgis Sandy and Muick and I am delighted to say they are thriving.’

Last month, the dogs were spotted being taken for a walk at Sandringham estate in Norfolk, where Andrew has been living in exile following his eviction from the Royal Lodge in Windsor over the Epstein scandal.

Ms Ferguson’s whereabouts are unknown. He went into hiding after his close friendship with the convicted pedophile was exposed and is now under pressure to testify in the US.

This newspaper revealed that Ms Ferguson repeatedly begged Mr Epstein to employ her as a domestic assistant because she “desperately” needed the money.

Derogatory emails included in the Epstein Files show the financier begging for work on multiple occasions, even though he was still under house arrest in Florida after being convicted of procuring a child for prostitution.

In an email sent in May 2010, Ms Ferguson said: ‘But I don’t understand why you don’t appoint me as your Home Assistant? I am the most talented and I desperately need money. Please Jeffrey think about this.’

A source said Ms Ferguson’s “pleading” emails had irritated Epstein’s accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell (who is currently serving 20 years in prison on child sex trafficking charges), who maintains properties in New York, Paris and Palm Beach, as well as his ranch on the Caribbean island and in New Mexico.

The source said: ‘Ghislaine was fully aware of Sarah’s emails to Jeffrey because Jeffrey told her. This made him very angry. He never had much respect for Sarah.

‘At one point Sarah was begging Jeffrey to marry her. “It was a bit hopeless and pathetic.”

A spokesman for Ms Ferguson said on Saturday night: ‘Sarah Ferguson has made no progress in any discussions with Halcyon Studios, which was designed by others, and has withdrawn from there voluntarily.

‘He always listens to offers on TV, but that doesn’t mean he will follow through on them. If she seemed enthusiastic for a brief moment, that’s exactly what Sarah is. Sarah never intended to make money from corgis.

He had been thinking about making a TV show about dogs for many years, long before he got Corgis and met Halcyon Studios.

‘They have other types of dogs too. ‘Any resulting show would never be just about corgis.’