Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, is poised to make a notable return to Australia later this year. The 64-year-old royal will be a special guest at the Festival of Fiction in Western Australia this October. The event is set for October 19 at Edith Cowan University in Joondalup, located in the northern part of Perth.
With over 55 books to her name, the Duchess will undoubtedly add a touch of royalty and literary flair to the festival. Her body of work includes beloved children’s books like “Ballerina Rosie” and “Tea for Ruby,” as well as the popular “Little Red” series. Her memoir, “Finding Sarah,” has also struck a chord with readers worldwide.
The Festival of Fiction is a vibrant celebration of literature, featuring some of Australia’s most acclaimed authors. It also offers a fantastic opportunity for aspiring writers to pitch their manuscripts, making it a must-attend event for literary enthusiasts.
Sarah’s upcoming visit marks her return to Australia since her last trip in March, when she traveled to Melbourne for the first international edition of the Global Citizen NOW action summit. Recently, she has been actively promoting her latest book, “A Woman of Intrigue,” which revolves around the captivating heroine, Lady Mary, set in the Victorian era.
Reflecting on her new literary work, Sarah shared on Instagram in April, “This book has meant so much to me and really speaks to my own hero’s journey, becoming firm in this adventure as an author and learning so much from our brave heroine, Lady Mary. I hope she can inspire all of you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading and for taking part in the magic.”
In addition to her literary endeavors, Sarah has also shown immense support and pride for her royal family members. She recently expressed her admiration for King Charles and the Princess of Wales, who have courageously opened up about their cancer diagnoses. During an appearance on Good Morning Britain, the Duchess shared her own recent experience with cancer and emphasized the importance of solidarity.
“I am so so proud of the King on becoming the royal patron of Cancer Research UK, getting out there and talking to all these people,” Sarah said. “He gives everyone that wonderful feeling that they are being listened to. I thought it was very brave of him to do that. The lovely Princess Catherine doing the video was so brave. Family unity is an extraordinary thing, and I am honestly so proud. I am sending them lots of love and lots of support. We all need to rally together.”
Opening up about her own battle with cancer, Sarah revealed she has found her “new normal.” She candidly discussed the challenges she has faced and her determination to stay positive and proactive. “All these years I’ve been thinking, ‘Am I good enough? Am I this, am I that? Do I get my finances right? Do I do this?’ And actually suddenly now with a mastectomy and then with malignant melanoma, every single day, it’s not a wake-up call, it’s now a new normal.”
She continued, “You can never say you’re cancer-free, but you can say that I’m doing well, and I’m very lucky. But I really am determined. Honestly, 1.2 million mammograms are not being picked up. People are not going for their mammograms, they’re not being tested. They need to be tested, they can be tested, and don’t be frightened.”
Sarah’s journey with cancer began last June when she was diagnosed during a routine mammogram. She underwent a single mastectomy, and six months later, she had a mole removed that was found to be a malignant melanoma. She continues to have regular check-ups to monitor her health.
