Revealed: Did Sarah Ferguson Put Princess Beatrice On a Diet When She Was 8 Years Old?
Princess Beatrice of York is Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson‘s oldest daughter. She and her sister, Princess Eugenie, aren’t as well known as their cousins, Prince William and Prince Harry, but they have been in the spotlight a bit more after Eugenie married Jack Brooksbank in October 2018.
Since her sibling tied the knot, royal fans have wanted to know more about the “blood princess” who, prior to the birth of Princess Charlotte, was the first female in the line of succession to the throne. One question that has come up is if Beatrice’s mother really put her on a diet when she was 8 years old. Here’s more on that and the disability the princess has dealt with all her life.
Did Fergie put Beatrice on a diet when she was a kid?
The Duchess of York did put her daughter on a diet when she was a child.
For years, Ferguson dealt with weight issues of her own and was cruelly dubbed the “Duchess of Pork” by the press after she put on several pounds. She called that time in her life “soul-destroying” so when Beatrice began overeating, Fergie stepped in and put her on a diet when she was 8.
Once the media got wind of what was going on, Fergie was questioned about it and told reporters, “I think overeating sort of runs in the family.”
Beatrice later admitted that she struggled with weight and body image issues into her teen years.
Beatrice ran marathons, Fergie worked for Weight Watchers
These days, Beatrice maintains healthy eating habits and stays fit by excising regularly with the help of a personal trainer.
In 2010, she became the first royal to run in the London Marathon. She followed that up by becoming the first royal to compete in a triathlon in 2016.
As for her mother, well after the ridicule she received for so long Fergie became a spokesperson for Weight Watchers. During her 11-year relationship with the weight loss program, she lost more than 50 pounds.
The princess’ other struggle growing up
It wasn’t just body image issues Beatrice struggled with growing up, she also has a learning disability.
The princess suffers from dyslexia, something she was diagnosed with at the age of 7. Because of her own experience, most of her charitable work is focused on children’s education and helping those with learning difficulties.
Beatrice has spoken about being dyslexic on numerous occasions and was praised by singer Tina Turner who credited the princess with helping her realize that she too had long suffered from dyslexia.
“I finally got over my lifelong sense of inadequacy when Princess Beatrice, Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter discussed her dyslexia in a number of interviews,” Turner wrote in her 2018 memoir. “She said she wasn’t able to count and had a hard time learning how to read. She could have been describing me. For the first time, I truly understood what my problem was and felt better about myself.”
Read more: Did Princess Beatrice Date a Convict?
