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A royal’s latest project has hit a snag amid the controversy surrounding her ex-husband. Sarah Ferguson, formerly known as the Duchess of York, had a new children’s book slated to be released in the coming days. According to the BBC, however, the book’s release has quietly been scrapped.
Flora and Fern: Kindness Along the Way was originally set to debut on October 9, notes the BBC. However, before its release, that date was pushed out to November 20.
Now, the media outlet indicates that it received a confirmation from NielsenIQ BookData that Ferguson’s new book has been “marked as ‘withdrawn from sale’ at the request of the publisher.'”
The Bookseller announced the upcoming book in August. New Frontier Publishing was behind the children’s book, but there is no sign of the book or Ferguson on the publisher’s website now.
There is no sign of the book on Amazon, either, although the BBC indicates it was previously available for pre-order.
One of Ferguson’s previous children’s books, Budgie at Bendick’s Point, is still available, as are a number of Ferguson’s other previously released books that were released via different publishers.
New Frontier Publishing previously described the picture book as a “charming tale” focused on “kindness and community.” The Bookseller quoted Ferguson sharing, “I am so thrilled to be publishing my next children’s picture book with Flora and Fern and join them on this big adventure.”
This was to be Ferguson’s second book based on her characters of Flora and Fern. The first, Flora and Fern: Wonder in the Woods, was released in October 2024 and was also published by New Frontier Publishing.
There is also no sign of that book on the publisher’s website, either, and on Amazon, it shows as unavailable for purchase.
The BBC reached out to Ferguson and New Frontier Publishing for comment, but received no responses. An industry source told the media outlet that it “makes total sense commercially” to pull the book.
Book Brunch’s Neill Denny told the outlet, “You have to imagine it’s to do with the current controversies. It’s not the right time to release a book by Sarah Ferguson.”
In October, Prince Andrew gave up his royal titles, and Ferguson gave up the title “Duchess of York.” The moves came amid the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein scandal and Prince Andrew’s former ties to Epstein.
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