For years, the Duke and Duchess of York have been a prime example of how personal scandal can erode the monarchy’s image.
The controversies surrounding Sarah Ferguson, Prince Andrew, and their ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein left lasting scars. Charities distanced themselves, and the Palace faced reputational damage it could ill afford. Now, some commentators argue that Meghan Markle should pay close attention to Ferguson’s trajectory.
Sarah Vine’s Caution to Meghan Markle
Sarah Vine, royal columnist for the Daily Mail, warned that Markle risks repeating Ferguson’s mistakes — particularly given the company she keeps. At the center of Vine’s concerns is Meghan’s friendship with filmmaker Tyler Perry.
The Sussexes share a close bond with Perry, who provided them with his Los Angeles home and private security when they stepped back from royal life in 2020, and later became godfather to Princess Lilibet. While Vine stressed that Perry is “no Epstein,” she pointed out that his public reputation is not without complications.
Despite Perry’s commercial success, his TV empire has faced criticism for perpetuating racial stereotypes. More recently, he was named in a lawsuit by an actor seeking more than £200 million in damages for alleged workplace misconduct — allegations strongly denied by Perry’s lawyers.
Vine summed it up bluntly: “He’s also not a wholly straightforward acquaintance.” The danger, she argued, is that royals who lean too heavily on powerful friends risk being dragged into controversies that could tarnish their own reputations. “The situation that the Duchess of York now faces ought to be a red flag for the Sussexes,” she wrote.
A Taste for Luxury
Another point of comparison Vine raised was their appetite for extravagance. “They both demand and expect the absolute VIP treatment at all times,” she reported, citing palace insiders. That pursuit of luxury, paired with dependence on wealthy allies, can lead to what Vine described as a “Hogarthian progression” — a gradual slide into questionable associations.
Commercial Ventures and Media Deals
Vine also noted striking parallels in their professional choices. Ferguson promoted lifestyle products and participated in a reality-style documentary about her struggles. Markle has pursued Netflix projects, launched her lifestyle brand As Ever, and invested in Clevr Blends. Both also turned to Oprah Winfrey — Ferguson with a series on OWN, and Markle with her explosive 2021 interview alongside Prince Harry.
Parallel Roles in the Royal Family
The similarities extend even further. Both women married the royal family’s second-born sons, not the heirs, and arrived as unconventional figures who initially energized the monarchy but soon found themselves at odds with its rigid traditions.
(L) Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after their wedding; (R) The wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson at Westminster Abbey. Image Source: Getty Images | (L) Jane Barlow; (R) John Shelley Collection
“A Cautionary Tale”
While Vine acknowledged that Markle’s behavior has been “as unpleasant as the Duchess of Sussex has been towards the royal family,” she emphasized that Meghan is not yet in “the same league as the Duchess of York.” Still, she insisted the warning signs should not be ignored: “It’s a cautionary tale. Let’s hope they take heed.”
Broader Concerns About the Sussexes
The Yorks’ history is increasingly cited in debates about the Sussexes’ impact on the monarchy. Critics argue the Palace has been slow to draw firm boundaries, both with the Yorks and now with Harry and Meghan, whose departure from royal duties and continued media deals have stirred ongoing concern.
Lee Cohen, writing for GB News, offered an even sharper view: “If the Yorks are a liability due to their ineptitude, the Sussexes are a threat because of their intent. Their departure from royal duties might have been understandable had they done so quietly. Instead, they chose spectacle over discretion, grievance over gratitude.”
Cohen went further in his warning: “Any entertainment of Harry’s returning to public service in Britain should be immediately extinguished. He’s shown himself to be dangerous and untrustworthy.”