Her Travails Long Behind Her, Fergie Steps into the Light

Duchess discusses "The Young Victoria

The strikingly disarming Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, familiar to us as "Fergie," stood in a black and red wool suit at the Neiman Marcus at Tysons Galleria Monday and told the story of Queen Victoria and her great love, Prince Albert.  She describes the soon-to-be-released movie, "The Young Victoria," as “a contemporary love story in a historical setting.”

In her role as co-producer, along with seasoned filmmakers Martin Scorsese, Tim Headington and Graham King, the Duchess of York was the driving force in getting the film made.  The film stars Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend and opens on December 18. 

The Duchess, whose own difficulties are long behind her, described the travails of Victoria before she became Queen of England.

"Her mother was extremely strong-willed and kept her in her tummy,” she said, “withholding delivery throughout a six-week drive over unpaved roads, all the way to London, so that she that she could be born in England.  
 
“Oh, I thought that was interesting!” she quipped.  “In order to get the Regency from her uncle, the King, Victoria was kept in a gilded cage for 17 years.  She never saw anybody, never talked to anybody and wasn’t allowed to read. The King was furious!” she said. She said the story had so touched her that she became committed to making the film which was started six years ago.
 
At 18, she took the throne as the youngest reigning sovereign ever.  She and Albert had nine children in 25 years.  "A very passionate love story!” Fergie says.
 
I asked her about the costumes displayed around her,  “Are they costumes from the film?”
 

<img id="wym-1260356189365" title="Photo by John Arundel/Local Kicks

Accompanying the Duchess was Victoria Christian, there to introduce Clive Christian No. 1, described as one of “the rarest and most expensive scents ever created,” with only 1,000 bottles produced annually. Some bottles retail for $300, while others for as much as $2,350." height="210" alt="Photo by John Arundel/Local Kicks

Accompanying the Duchess was Victoria Christian, there to introduce Clive Christian No. 1, described as one of “the rarest and most expensive scents ever created,” with only 1,000 bottles produced annually. Some bottles retail for $300, while others for as much as $2,350.
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Photo by John Arundel/Local Kicks
Accompanying the Duchess was Victoria
Christian, there to introduce Clive Christian
No. 1, described as one of “the rarest and most
expensive scents ever created,” with only 1,000
bottles produced annually. Some bottles retail
for $300, while others for as much as $2,350.

“Yes they are and look at that tiny waist!  They wore corsets.  Albert wore corsets too!” she let on.
 
Accompanying the Duchess was Victoria Christian, there to introduce Clive Christian No. 1, described as one of “the rarest and most expensive scents ever created,” with only 1,000 bottles produced annually. Some bottles retail for $300, while others for as much as $2,350.
 
About two decades ago a young Fergie discovered an original bottle beneath the floorboards of their family’s Victorian manor home.  Her father, Clive Christian, founder of the noted British Design House, was so inspired by its association with Queen Victoria, that he bought the 1800’s Perfumery to the Queen in 1999 in order to revive the line.
 
On Monday, the pair sat together in the store while the Duchess graciously signed boxes of the perfume and posters of the upcoming film.
 
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