Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, unleashed a seething rant at the amFAR charity gala during the Cannes Film Festival after audience members spoke over her as she took to the stage. The 64-year-old, dressed in a £13,000 Lilith Cocktail Dress, attended the event, which works to improve the treatment of AIDS and HIV prevention, and spoke as a painting of the late Queen Elizabeth II was auctioned off for over £400,000.
In a clip shared on Instagram by supermodel Heidi Klum, Fergie can be heard snapping at the audience, ordering them to be quiet. "Quiet because the incredible person Simon de Pury has done an amazing job tonight, this is exceptional, and all I want to say to everyone in this room is stop, stop, stop," she said. "Did you see I removed the microphone because all of you are saying 'I want to go, because where is the next party? What are we meant to be doing next?' But what I want to say is why are we here? What is the future and why are we not making our planet better for the youth of tomorrow?"
The Duchess of York then apologized to young people for the state of the environment, saying, "I am so sorry that we have completely destroyed your planet, but thanks to amFAR and these people with scientific brilliance..." before the clip cut out.
Earlier on the red carpet, Fergie shared a candid insight into royal family life, making a veiled reference to the ongoing friction within the royal ranks. Speaking to PEOPLE magazine, she emphasized the importance of family togetherness, stating, "I think family unity is key... I think the key to life is that we all support each other." She added, "And also forgiveness is a great thing. I think forgiveness of yourself, and forgiveness of others."
Sarah Ferguson is at @amfAR #Cannes2024 to help auction off a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by artist Chris Levine: “This is my mother-in-law.” It sold for 475,000 euros. pic.twitter.com/l3BVzAWxn9 — Ramin Setoodeh (@RaminSetoodeh) May 23, 2024
Fergie's comments were prompted when asked if she had been able to lend support to King Charles, 75, and Kate Middleton, 42, as they face their own cancer diagnoses, which were shared earlier this year. The Duchess herself was diagnosed with skin cancer earlier this year, almost a year after undergoing surgery for breast cancer.
Earlier this month, Fergie's oldest daughter, Princess Beatrice, revealed in a rare update that her mother was now "all clear" after her cancer struggle. Speaking about her own health at the charity gala, Sarah told PEOPLE, "This evening I am doing very well. I think that we've managed to get cancer in the right place rather than cancer ruling me. I've put cancer in the corner."
She urged people to be aware of their health, saying, "I think it's great to get checked for breast cancer [and] melanoma. I think you just have to be very candid about it. I think a lot of people get very frightened to talk about these things. I'm very happy with my mastectomy and my breasts and just to talk about it."
In recent months, Fergie has been increasingly welcomed back into the royal fold, attending several family events alongside her ex-husband Prince Andrew. She joined the royals at Sandringham for their annual Christmas walk to church, attended a memorial service for the former King Constantine of Greece at Windsor Castle in February, and was among a select few members of the royal family that joined King Charles for the annual Easter Sunday service at St George's Chapel in Windsor.
