Is Sarah Ferguson’s debut novel based on herself? Historical romance Her Heart for a Compass delves into British royal life – but are there any steamy love scenes?

Aug 6 , 2021

Victorian-era protagonist Lady Margaret is based on Fergie’s ancestor, and the real-life Queen Victoria and Scotland’s Dalkeith Palace make an appearance

Bridgerton fans might be disappointed by the lack of sexual tension as the novel’s ‘romance’ is more Shakespearean – but it’s an excellent coming-of-age story

In authoring her debut novel, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York took the “write what you know” philosophy to heart.

Her Heart for a Compass follows young noblewoman Lady Margaret Montagu Scott as she wrestles independence from her family, the aristocracy and patriarchal society.

The cover of Her Heart For A Compass by Sarah, Duchess of York. Photo: Handout

While the duchess’ protagonist is not an exact facsimile of herself, the similarities are striking. Both Ferguson and Lady Margaret (who is based on one of Ferguson’s ancestors) are redheads with polarising reputations. They have played the role of social pariah, been blacklisted by the aristocracy and – eventually – found redemption in living life their own way.

Margaret is hounded by the British press, her reputation besmirched by innuendo. “But no one seems to care that underneath I’m an actual person,” Margaret tells her friend Princess Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria. Ferguson was called the “Duchess of Pork” and “frumpy Fergie” by the tabloids and was the subject of myriad scandalous headlines.

“I really did mind when all those terrible articles were written about me, and sometimes still are,” Ferguson recently told the UK’s Sunday Times. “I have a therapist and I rely on friendship, my family and my work to keep me focused on what’s important.”

Even the novel’s Victorian-era details parallel Ferguson’s own story. Margaret, like the former member of the royal family, is pressured to put duty above all and has to fight (and lose friends and family) to be able to work outside the restrictions of the aristocracy. They both find solace in writing as a profession and children’s charities as a calling. Margaret founds a sanctuary for New York’s poorest children and donates funds from her children’s books to help fund the endeavour. Among her many charitable activities, the duchess founded Children in Crisis in 1993 (which merged with the Street Child non-profit). She’s also written many children’s books, including Ballerina Rosie and the Little Red series, and wrote a memoir, Finding Sarah.

The Duchess of York has a regular story book reading segment on her YouTube channel, called Storytime with Fergie and Friends. Photo: YouTube