Duchess duped by reporter

LONDON – Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson feels devastated after she was secretly recorded apparently offering to sell access to her  former husband Prince Andrew in return for £500 000 (US$724 000), her spokeswoman said yesterday.The tabloid News Of The World posted video on its website that appears to show Ferguson discussing payment terms. She is heard to say “£500 000 when you can, to me, open doors”.Asked if she was referring to the prince, she said: “Yeah.”The newspaper said Ferguson, 50, spoke to an undercover reporter posing as a businessman.Andrew is an international British trade ambassador. The newspaper said he knew nothing of the meeting.The report is embarrassing, but there is no suggestion Ferguson did anything illegal.Ferguson’s spokeswoman, Kate Waddington, confirmed the recording was authentic. She said the duchess was “devastated” and regretted the embarrassment she had caused.Ferguson married Andrew, who is fourth in line to the throne, in 1986. They had two children, princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, before divorcing in 1996.Since then Ferguson has written children’s books, made television documentaries and acted as a spokeswoman for Weight Watchers.She also has struggled financially and has complained that her divorce settlement was stingy. (AP)