Report: Duchess of York admits to drinking before media "sting"

Jun 1, 2010, 11:48 GMT

London - Sarah Ferguson, the ex-wife of Britain's Prince Andrew, has said she had been drinking before being caught on film selling access to her former husband, British newspapers reported Tuesday.

The 50-year-old duchess is to make her revelation in an interview with US chat show hostess Oprah Winfrey. The show is to be aired in the US later Tuesday.

'I haven't faced the devil in the face because I was in the gutter at that moment. I was not in my right place,' she told the show, according to the reports.

Her comments come a week after Ferguson, who holds the title Duchess of York, was secretly filmed by the British Sunday tabloid newspaper offering an undercover reporter up to 500,000 pounds (723,425 dollars) for access to her ex-husband.

Ferguson, who has two adult daughters with the prince, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II, has since apologised for her 'serious lapse of judgement,' while admitting that her financial situation was 'under stress.'

Prince Andrew, who is Britain's Special Representative for Trade and Investment, is reported to have 'forgiven' his ex-wife, with whom he retains close links.

But he has 'categorically denied' having had any knowledge of the meeting between his ex-wife and the undercover reporter, who posed as a businessman.