‘I'd marry Andrew ALL OVER AGAIN'

The Duchess of York on writing a novel and why she’ll always stand united with her prince

- CHRISTABEL SMITH

It’s fair to say that Sarah, Duchess of York has never been afraid to try new things, and she can now add ‘novelist’ to her impressive list of accomplishments.

Inspired by the life of her great-great aunt, Lady Margaret Montagu Douglas Scott, Her Heart for a Compass is described by publishers Mills & Boon as an ‘immersive historical saga, sweeping the reader from the drawing rooms of [Queen] Victoria’s court and the grand country houses of Scotland and Ireland to the slums of London and the mercantile bustle of 1870s New York’.

Red-haired Lady Margaret ‘desires to break the mould’ by following her heart. Sound familiar? You bet! Here, in an exclusive interview with Woman, Sarah opens up about writing, life and true love…

When I first embarked on writing the book, I held back. My editor gently told me to stop being so self-deprecating, speak my mind and tell people who I really was through my heroine. So, with the help of my wonderful co-writer and collaborator Marguerite Kaye, we went back to the drawing board, and I can honestly say every single line comes straight from the heart.

This novel has taken me to a lovely place of being my authentic self and not being frightened to speak my truth. I guess I’ve started liking myself at 61! I’ve never admitted to liking myself before, and my advice is not to wait so long.

Lockdown at Royal Lodge