THE Duchess of York has dropped legal action to block publication of a controversial new book about her life, the book's publishers said yesterday.
The duchess took out an injunction against publication of Dr Allan Starkie's Fergie: Her Secret Life, dubbed "the book she tried to ban".
Publishers, Michael O'Mara Books, yesterday said that the duchess had backed away from further court action after being asked to lodge £500,000 with the court in case she lost the action.
The book will now be published on November 4th. The publishers yesterday said they had given assurances to the duchess's advisers that the book contained no material which would damage other members of the royal family, other than that already in the public domain.
The duchess had faced going into the witness box to try to stop the book, which dealt with her relationship with US financier, Mr John Bryan. Dr Starkie is a former business partner of Mr Bryan.
Dr Starkie said yesterday the book had been written while he was on remand in jail in Germany after the collapse of Oceonics (Deutschland), the company he ran with Mr Bryan.
Dr Starkie said yesterday the book had been written while he was on remand in jail in Germany after the collapse of Oceonics (Deutschland), the company he ran with Mr Bryan.
It was compiled from very detailed diary notes he had made while he, the duchess and Mr Bryan were companions.
Last Thursday, the duchess's solicitors, Schilling and Lom, said she had decided to take her battle to block the Starkie book into an open court hearing.
That announcement came after a High Court judge's ruling that such a hearing would face her with the prospect of a public questioning. She was also told she would have to find £500,000 as security for any damages that might be won by Dr Starkie and the publishers.
Since then, the duchess was faced with stories from a new source - Greek born fortune teller, Madam Vasso Kortesis, author of another book.
Reports, said to be based on the book, The Duchess of York - Uncensored, appeared in newspapers, followed by extracts from taped conversations the duchess had with Madam Vasso.