'I worked for Royal Family - Sarah Ferguson had tired kitchen staff up in arms'

Sarah Ferguson marks her 66th birthday today following what has proved to be a particularly turbulent period for her.

Just last month, she faced the embarrassment of being dropped as a patron by several charities after a compromising email she sent to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was made public. The Duchess of York had written "I did not use the P word about you" in 2011 - mere weeks after pledging never to communicate with him again.

Meanwhile, a fresh book by former Royal butler Paul Burrell has now disclosed how Sarah once left kitchen staff "up in arms" shortly after her marriage to Prince Andrew in 1986.

Paul, who spent considerable time within Buckingham Palace, revealed that Andrew was "besotted" by his new bride who could "do no wrong" in his latest memoir titled The Royal Insider: My Life with the Queen, the King and Princess Diana.

However, discussing tensions, he continued: "But the staff were up in arms early in the marriage. From the beginning, the royal newlyweds refused to leave their martial bed.

"The maids weren't allowed to go into the bedroom to make the bed for days. When the couple did surface, they held lavish dinner, lunch and tea parties with all their friends."

Paul, who served under Princess Diana from 1987 to 1997, alleged this created problems with weary staff members who reportedly favoured adhering to established meal schedules.

He went on to explain: "The kitchen staff were run off their feet. Even the Queen didn't entertain so extravagantly. The royal chiefs were furious to be making food like it was an a la carte restaurant.

"They were used to serving food to the Queen and the Royal Family at set times. It was too much. The staff rebelled and protests were made to the Master of the Household who informed the Queen of her staff's unhappiness.

"She had to intervene and put a stop to the lavish gluttony. After all, she despised waste, deciding in advance which food should be cooked for her each day. So why should Andrew and Fergie be different?"

Paul, 67, then alleged Andrew was "never easy" to work alongside, particularly for household staff.

The writer, who also penned A Royal Duty, initially served as a footman to Queen Elizabeth before becoming King Charles' personal servant.

Nevertheless, he gained prominence as Diana's trusted ally.

In another section of his latest publication, he disclosed the amusing two-word moniker employees coined for Buckingham Palace.

Alluding to a boozing atmosphere within the Royal residence, he wrote: "It wasn't just bed-hopping that went on in the palaces; there was a degree of inebriation which often helped people's inhibitions.

"Forget Buckingham Palace, it was nicknamed 'Gin Palace' after the spirit that flowed freely through the everyday workings of the building. Gin, always, Gordon's, was the drink of choice."