Sarah Ferguson and John Bryan's toe-sucking scandal was reportedly among the reasons behind her divorce from Prince Andrew. Bryan broke his silence about the issue after three decades, and here's what he said.
Sarah Ferguson And John Bryan's Toe-Sucking Scandal Was Manipulated?
Ferguson and Bryan's controversial picture was among the things featured on Netflix's The Crown. He said it was an "honor" to be included in the show but corrected it saying, "of course it didn't happen that way," Express reported.
"If you go back 30 years, it's all based on lies," he said.
According to him, they chose the area because it offered "absolute privacy." He also clarified that Prince Andrew and Ferguson's children, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, were around when the scandalous photo was captured. The two princesses of york were reportedly enjoying the sun at the villa. According to him, they were having a great time.
"We used to play fun games, make-believe games. On this day we were playing Cinderella and I said, 'Look, let's kiss Mummy's toes,'" Bryan recounted.
"It was part of the game. I did it first and then I think one of the girls, probably Beatrice, did it. It was totally innocent, a beautiful family moment of love."
According to him, the moment was "beautiful" but was presented as a "despicable" story. He called the reports about it "twisted, sick, fabricated narrative."
"They sexualized something so innocent," he added.
What Was Sarah Ferguson's Toegate Scandal?
The incident coined as "toegate" scandal was featured as a joke on Netflix's The Crown Season 5, episode 4. However, it was among the Queen's "annus horribilis."
In 1992, King Charles and Princess Diana's marriage was on the rocks, and so was Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's.
In August of that year, Ferguson was holidaying in a private villa in Sain-Tropez when a tabloid photographer illicit a photo of the Duchess of York reclining on a sun lounger with Bryan kissing her feet.
Royal correspondent Richard of the Daily claimed that Princess Diana told him the night before the scandal broke that "The redhead's in trouble," referring to her sister-in-law, a.k.a Fergie, Daily Mirror reported.
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Bryan asked to get an advance copy of the paper, and Ferguson reportedly called Bryan on the phone.
"Bryan promised her everything would be fine, but I could see in his face that he didn't really believe it," Kay wrote. "In a few short hours, those pictures were going to be on the breakfast room sideboard in the Queen's castle. They would also be winging around the world to be poured over by millions."
Bryan had one complaint about the photos, he clarified that he wasn't sucking her toes.
"I wasn't sucking her toes, I was kissing them!" he said.
How Did The Toegate Scandal Affect Sarah Ferguson And The Royal Family?
The royal family wasn't happy after finding out about the issue in the tabloids. It reportedly cost Ferguson her marriage and relationship with the members of the firm.
"The Queen was furious, absolutely furious. I think partly because she loved Fergie so much. She just couldn't believe Fergie could have been so stupid to allow this to happen," said Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, Daily Express reported.
Another royal reporter claimed that Prince Philip was apoplectic: "Philip came into the breakfast room, picked up one of the papers and just threw it in front of her and walked out."
Ferguson was frozen from the royal household since. Prince Philip reportedly had no desire to see her. Meanwhile, her flowers for Princess Margaret were not received well.
"You have done more to bring shame on the family than could ever have been imagined… Not once have you hung your head in embarrassment even for a minute after those disgraceful photographs. Clearly you have never considered the damage you are causing us all. How dare you discredit us like this and how dare you send me those flowers?" a handwritten letter Ferguson received after sending a goodwill read, according to Daily Telegraph.
Stay tuned for more news and updates about Sarah Ferguson.
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