Fergie's regrets

Jan 5, 2007, 13:10 GMT

Britain's Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has revealed how she was wracked with guilt about letting the royal family down after watching 'The Queen'.

Sarah, 47, confessed watching the British Royal Family cope with the death of Princess Diana in Stephen Frears' film made her regret any upset she caused Queen Elizabeth over her behaviour when married to Prince Andrew.

She told Britain's Daily Mail newspaper: "The queen is one of the finest ladies I've ever met in me life.

"I'm so honoured to be able to say we are friends. I love her. She's given up her whole life to her country.

"I started beating myself up a bit watching the movie, because I started thinking, 'What a shame if I let her down in any way.'"

The duchess was shunned by the royal family when pictures of her sucking American financial manager John Bryan's toes emerged in 1992.

Although Sarah had separated from Andrew in January 1992 the couple - who have two children Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie - only officially divorced in 1996.

The duchess also admitted than when her relationship ended with Andrew she was "broken".

She added: "Broken heart, broken self. Felt I'd betrayed everybody and let down the monarchy."

'The Queen' is being hotly tipped for Oscar success, and Helen Mirren - who portrayed the queen in the drama - was nominated in the US for a Screen Actors Guild award yesterday (04.01.07).

(C) BANG Media International