Shamed Duchess of York steps out in New York

NEW YORK - Sarah Ferguson promoted her new ‘advice’ books for children in New York even as the storm continues to brew over her recent “cash for access” scam.

A sting operation by British tabloid the News of the World recently caught the Duchess of York setting a price tag of 500,000 pounds on an introduction to Prince Andrew, promising to open the door to lucrative international deals for the ‘client’.

But Fergie is evidently trying to move on as she appeared before a crowd of several hundred authors, publishers and buyers at a Children’s Book and Author breakfast at BookExpo America.

Sporting a black dress with white polkadots, a black blazer and black heels, she repeatedly cracked jokes at her own expense, but cleverly evaded any talk about the sting operation.

“It was quite difficult for me to get to [the] Javits Center this morning,” the New York Daily News quoted her, as saying.

“There were one or two people in the way but then, you might have read that,” she said, referring to the paparazzi gathered outside her Manhattan hotel.

Fergie, 50, who has been writing children’s books for years, believes she needs to learn from her own writings.

She said: “Actually, when I was going to talk to you about my books, I suddenly realized that maybe I should take a leaf out of my own books,” she said.

“My books say they are ‘Helping Hand Books’.

“And one of my books is ‘Ashley Learns About Strangers’,” she said, pausing to look up at the audience who broke into laughter.

“Or ‘Matthew and the Bullies’. Hmm?”

Fergie added: “It was in 1991, around that time, my grandmother said that when you feel bad about yourself, give to others…And Saint Francis of Assisi said seek to understand, not to be understood. Seek to love, not to be loved.” (ANI)