Fergie says her charity work gave her 'purpose through difficult times' - and made her a 'better mother' to Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie

  • Duchess of York is marking 25 years of her Children in Crisis charity
  • Announced she is merging her foundation with Street Child 
  • Said foundation she founded in 1992 has 'probably saved my life'
  • Gave her a sense of 'perspective' when raising Beatrice and Eugenie 
  • Named her two daughters as ambassadors of her expanded foundation  

By Kerry Mcdermott For Mailonline

Published: 07:52 EDT, 16 July 2018 | Updated: 08:05 EDT, 16 July 2018

The Duchess of York has said her children's charity work 'probably saved my life', as she unveiled plans to expand the foundation she founded 25 years ago.

Fergie, who is founder patron of Children in Crisis, confirmed it would be merging with Street Child, which works to support children in Liberia, Nigeria, Nepal and Sierra Leone. 

The Duchess, 58, who divorced Prince Andrew in 1996 after a decade of marriage,  said her work to promote education in some of the world's most disadvantaged communities had given her 'purpose through difficult times', and made her a 'better mother' to her two daughters; Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. 

'It has certainly made me a better mother to my daughters, giving me a sense of perspective and allowing me to encourage them to use the platform they have to get involved in charitable work,' the Duchess wrote in a piece for the Evening Standard. 

The Duchess of York, who has announced she is merging her Children in Crisis foundation with Street Child, has said her charity work has made her a 'better mother' 

The Duchess of York, who has announced she is merging her Children in Crisis foundation with Street Child, has said her charity work has made her a 'better mother' 

She announced the move on her Instagram account, and said in an interview her charity had been 'like a third child to me' 

She announced the move on her Instagram account, and said in an interview her charity had been 'like a third child to me' 

The Duchess, who has been sharing photographs of herself working with her charity overseas on her Instagram account, added: 'It has probably saved my life too, by giving me purpose through difficult times.

'As my grandmother always said, "when you feel bad about yourself, go out there and do something for somebody else."' 

The Duchess has spoken openly about her 'mistakes' in the past, most famously in an interview with Oprah Winfrey during which she addressed the fact she was left off the guest list for Kate and William's wedding in 2011. 

Fergie had been embroiled in scandal the year before after being filmed offering access to her ex-husband for $724,000. 

At the time she recalled feeling 'totally worthless', after being ostracised by the royal family due to her mistakes. 

The Duchess, who said it was 'quite right' that she was not invited, did attend Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle in May.  

Fergie, who divorced Prince Andrew in 1996 after a decade of marriage, said her charity work had given her a vital sense of perspective as a parent 

Fergie, who divorced Prince Andrew in 1996 after a decade of marriage, said her charity work had given her a vital sense of perspective as a parent 

Fergie, who is mother to 29-year-old Princess Beatrice and 28-year-old Princess Eugenie with her ex-husband Prince Andrew, became founder patron of Children in Crisis in 1996. 

She said the merger with Street Child would allow the foundation to 'pack a bigger punch and achieve bigger goals.'

Fergie said she was taking a similar view of the next chapter for her charity to that of her younger daughter's impending wedding. 

'I see it a little bit like my daughter Eugenie getting married this year,' she wrote. 

'She's 28, and when your children get to that age you let them go off and do their thing, confident that they will forge the right path.' 

Princess Eugenie was the first to congratulate her mother on the development, sharing the same photograph of Fergie surrounded by street children that the Duchess had posted on her own Instagram feed. 

The bride-to-be wrote: 'My wonderful mother @sarahferguson15 has merged her charity @childrenincrisis with @streetchilduk. Together they will strive to provide children with education and ensure that every child has the chance to go to school and learn.' 

The Duchess is seen smiling flanked by her two daughters, Eugenie (left) and Beatrice (right), on a family outing to Royal Ascot in 2015

The Duchess is seen smiling flanked by her two daughters, Eugenie (left) and Beatrice (right), on a family outing to Royal Ascot in 2015

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Fergie says charity work made her a better mother

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