A forthcoming royal biography alleges that Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, carried more than a few celebrity crushes over the years — and some of them got surprisingly close to real-life encounters.
In Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, author Andrew Lownie writes that Ferguson harbored “amorous” feelings toward Kevin Costner and allegedly peppered him with risqué calls, after which he reportedly told friends, “She’s a woman crying out for love.” Lownie also lists George Clooney among “other fancies,” and claims Ferguson once flew roughly 1,500 miles with hopes of meeting Tiger Woods. According to the book, she confided to broadcaster Piers Morgan that she was “in love,” later revealing the object of her affection was Woods. When Morgan suggested the golfer might be too busy to date a royal, Ferguson reportedly quipped she would follow him around the course.
The book further describes a “schoolgirl crush” on John F. Kennedy Jr. During a trip to New York, Ferguson allegedly asked staff to find out if Kennedy was in town and invited him to her hotel for drinks or dinner, an invitation he initially accepted. At the time, Kennedy was with actress Daryl Hannah, who was said to be uncomfortable with the forward approach. Kennedy subsequently canceled, citing a prior commitment, and Ferguson’s staff were allegedly told to keep an eye on his apartment to see if he had been truthful. A close confidant told the author that Ferguson talked at length about Kennedy and imagined a connection despite never meeting him in person, even collecting magazine clippings and debating what parts of her personality he might like.
Beyond these anecdotes, Lownie’s book revisits Ferguson’s relationship with Prince Andrew. The couple married in July 1986, welcomed daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie during their decade together, and finalized their divorce in May 1996. Despite the split, they are understood to have remained close.
Additional comment
– Taken together, the stories read less like scandal and more like the very human — and admittedly starry-eyed — fixations many people have on famous figures. If accurate, the episodes reflect a time when royal life collided with 1980s and 1990s celebrity culture, and they underscore how public scrutiny can magnify ordinary feelings into headlines.
– The enduring cordiality between Ferguson and Prince Andrew, and her ongoing role as a mother and grandmother, offer a steady counterpoint to the book’s more breathless anecdotes.
Summary
A new biography alleges Sarah Ferguson pursued several celebrity crushes — including Kevin Costner, George Clooney, Tiger Woods, and John F. Kennedy Jr. — with episodes ranging from playful admissions to attempted meet-ups. The book also recaps her 1986–1996 marriage to Prince Andrew and notes the pair remain close. Framed as allegations, the stories present a humanizing portrait of the Duchess’s private infatuations during a high-profile era.