Many of us are scared of the dark – but Sarah Ferguson once revealed the prospect terrified her so much that she "slept with her eyes open" at night.
Speaking to Canadian TV host Dini Petty on CTV shortly after her divorce from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in 1996, Sarah recalled how she was once "so scared" that she'd be approached by "spooks" while sleeping.
Asking her to describe her fear and how she overcame it, Dini said: "You had an absolutely overwhelming complete terror of the dark."
Sarah recalled: "I sat up in bed and slept with my eyes open because I was so scared of the dark. I thought that if I slept with my eyes open, I could see any spooks coming towards me.
"I realised that my fear of the dark was my fear of the demons inside myself and the black treacle, my fears and anxieties that were inside myself."
© Getty ImagesShe also spoke about how she managed to come through her fear as a "survivor".
"I'm still here," she said. "Suddenly I realised that it is all alright really. Everything is ok. It's a long way, and it's a big battle, but I am here, and it is alright."
During the 1996 tell-all interview, the former Duchess of York opened up about her recent separation from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and leaving the royal family, as well as raising her two daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
Where is Sarah Ferguson now?
It was reported at the end of August that Sarah was returning to Britain after months living overseas.
King Charles's former sister-in-law is now renting a six-bedroom gated property in the Home Counties, according to The Sun.
The former Duchess of York, 66, lost her title in October 2025 alongside Andrew after revelations over their links to the late financier.
© Getty ImagesShe was previously believed to have spent time at a Swiss Alpine chalet in Verbier since leaving Royal Lodge, Andrew's former home in Windsor.
Last week, it was claimed that Sarah was writing a "tell-all memoir" to "rescue her reputation" upon returning to Britain.
However, her spokesman denied the reports to HELLO!, which also claimed she'd been offered a seven-figure deal.
"There have been no discussions, and she is not writing a personal memoir; it's not what she's going to do," he said.
The royal family's biggest phobias revealed
It's not just Sarah Ferguson who has opened up about having a phobia in the past.
Queen Camilla has been very open about suffering from aerophobia in the past – a fear of flying. It even means she does not always accompany her husband, King Charles, on royal tours.
© Getty ImagesWhen she cut short a visit to Australia in April 2018, a Clarence House spokesman said: "The Duchess does not like flying, but I think she has to sometimes embrace that fear."
Princess Eugenie also reportedly has a fear of flying, while the one thing the late Queen Elizabeth did not like was said to be "helicopters".
Meanwhile, Prince William has admitted to "anxiety" around public speaking, something he shares with younger brother Prince Harry, who said he gets "incredibly nervous" before facing a crowd.
The Duke of Sussex also revealed in his memoir, Spare, that he suffered from agoraphobia in the past, which is a fear of being in public places or spaces that are difficult to escape from.
