Royal misconduct is nothing new, yet every new instance seems to capture the world’s attention with fresh intensity. From whispers in palace corridors to explosive headlines abroad, the monarchy’s private lives rarely stay private. Of late, the spotlight in this regard has often fallen on Meghan Markle, but the latest storm surrounds a different UK figure, a duchess whose grace and influence have long commanded curiosity. Her publicly unfolding life now, reportedly ripe with secrecy and intrigue, has inspired showbiz. Cue: The Lady.

This entertainment response is set to peel back layers of royal life, revealing a story of power, ambition, and even scandal that has kept the public guessing.

The Lady is an upcoming four-part ITV drama that dives into the life of Jane Andrews, the former royal dresser to Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York. The series traces Andrews’ journey from her working-class roots to her high-profile role within the royal household, culminating in the tragic events that led to her 2001 conviction for murdering her boyfriend, Thomas Cressman. Produced by Left Bank Pictures, known for The Crown, the drama blends fact and fiction to explore class, ambition, and fame within the royal circle.

Starring BAFTA-winning Mia McKenna-Bruce as Jane Andrews, the series features Natalie Dormer as Sarah Ferguson and Ed Speleers as Thomas Cressman, alongside Philip Glenister and Claire Skinner. Directed by Lee Haven Jones and written by Debbie O’Malley, The Lady is set to air on ITV1 and stream on ITVX either later this year or in early 2025. While the offering sounds promising, given the talents and creatives attached to it, what is the controversy surrounding it?

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The controversy involving The Lady stems from Sarah Ferguson's recently leaked email concerning her link to a now-departed criminal, following which the actress who portrays her has taken a stern stand.

Natalie Dormer, who portrays Sarah Ferguson in The Lady, announced recently that she will not promote the show following revelations about the Duchess’s connection to Jeffrey Epstein, as reported by Variety. Following the disclosure, Dormer told Variety that the recent unveiling conflicted with her values, forcing her to step back from marketing the effort and donate her salary from the show to child-abuse charities.

As anticipation builds for The Lady, the drama, as can be drawn, reminds the masses yet again that royal glamour often masks a tangled web of glitz and scandal. In a separate royal twist not shown in The Lady, meanwhile, Prince Harry supposedly engaged in a spat with Prince Andrew, Sarah Ferguson’s ex-husband, showing that palace tensions are not confined to history or television; they continue to echo through the present.

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What are your thoughts on the controversy surrounding The Lady? Let us know in the comments below!