Sarah Ferguson 'discussed' cloning Queen Elizabeth II's corgis for reality TV show

The practice, described by producers in Hollywood as a "bold and controversial business venture", was discussed by Ms Ferguson with several TV companies in the States during meetings with Halcyon Studios executives in Los Angeles.

Commercial animal cloning is banned in the UK, but legal in the US and China.

As revealed by the Mail on Sunday, Ms Ferguson "was pushing to get back into TV and make some money", a source claimed.

The source, who was near the negotiations, said: "She came up with the idea of featuring the Queen's corgis in a show. And that included the idea of breeding them. Bizarre as it sounds, the idea of cloning them was discussed.

"There were Zoom meetings with the TV people and email exchanges. At one point, she wanted to get what she called her 'team' involved.

"Sarah seemed to be up for anything provided she was paid – and particularly if she could do some travelling in the process and meet rich aristos who might like to own a corgi."

Following discussions with the former Duchess of York, producers came up with a brief explaining how the show can unfold.

The synopsis read: "When Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, is bequeathed two of the Queen's beloved corgis, she decides to embark on a bold and controversial business venture - cloning the royal pups.

"But as she navigates the complex world of genetics and royal protocol, Sarah must also grapple with her own personal demons and strained relationship with the royal family.

"Fergie was thrilled to learn that she had been remembered in the Queen's will, but surprised to learn that rather than jewellery or money, the Queen left her two of her beloved Corgis.

"At 63, Fergie finds herself like so many other people facing a dramatic change in economic outlook later in life – needing to make money!"

The synopsis then suggests the idea of cloning the pups.

Cloning involves extracting DNA from adult cells and injecting it into an egg from which its own genetic material has been removed.

The resulting embryo is then developed in a surrogate mother, resulting in a dog that is genetically identical to the original.

It usually takes several failed attempts before a healthy animal is produced, meaning numerous abnormal puppies will be made in the process.

The synopsis then explained how Ms Ferguson planned to create a company that would clone animals and sell them.

It reads: "With the help of a team of scientists and investors, Fergie sets up a company called The Queen's Corgis, which aims to clone the Queen's corgis and sell them to other dog lovers around the world.

"But as she dives deeper into the world of genetics and cloning, Fergie realises that her business venture is not without controversy - as the series unfolds, viewers will be taken on a journey through the fascinating world of genetics and cloning, as well as the inner workings of the royal family.

"They will witness the highs and lows of Fergie's business venture, and see how her determination and resilience are put to the test. But ultimately, they will be left with a sense of hope and wonder, as they witness the incredible bond between humans and animals, and the enduring legacy of the Queen's beloved corgis."

A spokesman for Ms Ferguson told the Mail: "Sarah Ferguson never progressed any discussions with Halcyon Studios, which were engineered by others, and withdrew from them of her own accord. She listens to TV proposals all the time, but that doesn't mean she is going to go through with them. If she had briefly seemed enthusiastic, that is just who Sarah is. Sarah never had any intention of monetising the corgis.

"She had been looking at doing a TV show about dogs for many years, long before she had the corgis and long before she was introduced to Halcyon Studios. She owns other types of dogs also. Any resulting show would never have been about the corgis alone."

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter