Why Fergie sees herself as the voice of Gen Z

SHE’S an author, broadcaster, businesswoman and sometime WeightWatchers champion. Now, Sarah, Duchess of York has taken on a new challenge: speaking up for young people.

The 64-year-old says she is now an ‘ambassador’ for Generation Z, a term generally referring to those aged 13 to 26.

‘I am the generational bridge between Gen Z and the outside world,’ she declares at the Knights Of Charity gala dinner in Cannes. ‘I’m saying, “No, Gen Z, I’m very sorry for hurting your planet and I’m listening”.’

Explaining why she is taking up the cause of those less than half her age, she tells me: ‘I can relate to the pressure they face because Fergie’s always been judged.’

Sarah has two daughters with her ex-husband, Prince Andrew: Princess Beatrice, 35, and Princess Eugenie, 34. ‘Gen

Z are very strong people,’ she says. ‘No one should be judged on anything, not race, creed, colour, or any other denomination — and I’m a great supporter of LGBTQ. Everybody just needs to be themselves — why is that not good enough?’

The Duchess was enjoying visiting the South of France after being diagnosed with two types of cancer in the span of eight months. She was told by doctors in March that it appeared her malignant melanoma skin cancer had not spread. She was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery last year.

‘I’ve won a wonderful new body,’ she tells me, joking about her choice of outfit for the evening. ‘I thought I looked like a palm tree.’ Her green Vivienna Lorikeet dress is said to be worth £5,155. She was reunited at the dinner with her old chum and rumoured ex-boyfriend Manuel Fernandez, 56. Fergie, whose marriage ended in divorce in 1996, was linked to Fernandez, founder of Braveheart Films, for two years until 2016.