Prince Philip sent brutal letter to Fergie after ‘toe-sucking scandal’ | Royal | News
The late Prince Philip once told Sarah Ferguson that he had ‘let down’ the Royal Family following the ‘toe-sucking scandal’. Just five months after her split from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Sarah was embroiled in arguably one of the Royal family’s biggest scandals when indecent photos of her with her financial adviser at her holiday villa in St Tropez were published.
Photos published by the Mirror at the time showed Texas millionaire John Bryan kissing and sucking Sarah’s toes and the arch of her foot as they lazed by the pool. Images were taken with a telephoto lens.
In an extract from the second volume of his memoir, published in 2014, royal diarist and historian Kenneth Rose recalled something Sarah told him about the letters she received, particularly the letters she received from Philip.
In quotes shared by Daily MailHe wrote: “I go down the road to see the Duchess of York. I’m greeted with shouts of ‘Ken, Ken’ from Beatrice and Eugenie. There’s the biggest, richest chocolate cake and rolls I’ve ever seen, sausages, sardines and fish fingers.
“There are both sides to Fergie’s correspondence with Andrew: She writes to him every day while he is away. There are also letters written to her by the Queen.”
He later shared: “He continues: ‘I also have letters from Prince Philip saying I’ve let the Firm down.’
“In one of them he wrote that he was reading a book about Edwina Mountbatten. [Lord Mountbatten’s wife, notorious for having had many lovers including, allegedly, Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India]and my behavior reminded him of his.”
Sarah previously talked about her late father-in-law on a 2023 episode of the Life’s a Beach podcast.
He said: “It’s quite interesting. The Duke of Edinburgh used to say: ‘Remember Sarah, you should be electable but never electable.’ It resonates, doesn’t it?
“He came across as a very wise man. Very wise. You had to do your best. When you asked about a stupid comment, you were told it was an absolutely stupid comment.” Laughing, he also stated that living with him as his father-in-law was “terrible.”
