A new children’s book written by Sarah Ferguson has been pulled from sale by its publisher, the BBC reports.
Ferguson’s Flora and Fern: Kindness Along the Way, illustrated by Denise Hughes, was initially slated for publication in the U.K. on October 9 by New Frontier Publishing. Earlier this month, the book’s publication was delayed until November 20. The company NielsenIQ BookData told the BBC that it has now been withdrawn from sale; the publisher did not respond to requests for comment.
Ferguson first rose to fame in the 1980s following her engagement and marriage to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, then known as Prince Andrew. The couple divorced in 1996. Ferguson is the author of dozens of children’s books, including the Budgie the Little Helicopter, Helping Hands, and Little Red series of books, as well as two memoirs.
Ferguson was formerly known as Sarah, Duchess of York, but lost her title last month after Mountbatten-Windsor stopped using his Duke of York title. Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his title as prince last month, following the controversy over his friendship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and allegations that Mountbatten-Windsor had sexually abused girls.
Neill Denny, an editor at the website BookBrunch, told the BBC, “You have to imagine it's to do with the current controversies. It's not the right time to release a book by Sarah Ferguson.”
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
