Duchess of York admits to drinking before media "sting" (Roundup)

Jun 1, 2010, 19:52 GMT

Los Angeles/London - Sarah Ferguson, the ex-wife of Britain's Prince Andrew, has said she had been drinking before being caught on film trying to sell access to her former husband.

The 50-year-old duchess made the revelation in an interview with US chat show hostess Oprah Winfrey, which was being aired Tuesday in the US, as she sought to deflect widespread criticism for asking 500,000 pounds (723,425 dollars) for an introduction to the British prince in a sting orchestrated by a British tabloid.

'I haven't faced the devil in the face because I was in the gutter at that moment. I'm aware of the fact that I'd been drinking; I was not in my right place,' she told the talk show queen.

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

Ferguson told Oprah she couldn't remember how much alcohol she had consumed, but said she only agreed to meet the purported businessman who wanted the introduction after he had been highly recommended by four different people.

Ferguson said she 'met with him because a friend introduced me to him saying that he would invest in your children's books, animations - and he wants to help you.'

Ferguson repeated earlier comments about her financial hardship and said she couldn't afford to rent her own own home and had to rely on the generosity of her ex-husband for living quarters. After her divorce from the prince she 'didn't build a strong financial house,' she said.

'I went into debt again. I'm substantially in debt. I think I've got a huge uphill battle,' she said.

She claimed that her request for 500,000 pounds from the journalist was spontaneous, saying she 'plucked' that number 'out of the sky' as she sat in the meeting.

'I was so out of my mind. I have to say to you that this has been building up to a crescendo of such spiraling, that I've tried so hard to keep up the treadmill of life,' she told Winfrey. 'I've been living, trying to be the Duchess of York, beyond my means - Yes,' she told Winfrey.

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.