A new royal biography by author Andrew Lownie asserts that Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, had a secret “friends with benefits” relationship with American rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs, a claim that has been rebutted by someone close to Ferguson as unfounded and sensational.

According to the updated paperback edition of Lownie’s book Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, Ferguson first met Combs in New York in 2002 at a party hosted by Ghislaine Maxwell, and that a “secret friends with benefits” arrangement began in 2004 and continued for several years. The author claims that multiple sources, including former employees of Combs’s Bad Boy Records, confirmed the relationship, saying the rapper was obsessed with the Royal Family and would boast about his involvement with Ferguson.

Lownie’s book alleges that Combs once said he “could not wait until Fergie’s daughters come of age,” and that the pair met in luxury hotels around the world. He also suggests that Ferguson, now in her sixties, introduced her children to Combs on several occasions during that period.

Representatives for Ferguson have strongly rejected the claims, with a source close to her calling the story “absolute fabricated nonsense, blatantly untrue.” Lownie has defended his reporting, insisting his book is fully sourced and stands by the accounts he presents.

The controversy comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Ferguson’s past connections, including her previously reported friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and has revived discussion of how royal figures manage public and private relationships.

Social media users were quick to react to the explosive claim, with one commenting,

“He must have been trying to get into politics or something because WTF.”

Another wrote,

“Wouldn't put anything past her, no surprise here.”

The allegation has split opinion, with some dismissing it as tabloid sensationalism and others questioning the motivations behind its publication. Royal watchers note that such claims can attract attention and controversy, regardless of their veracity, and have the potential to overshadow more substantive commentary about royal life and legacy.

Critics of the book say that linking Ferguson to Combs, who has his own troubled past including a conviction on charges related to prostitution, only serves to inflame public curiosity rather than contribute meaningful insight. Supporters of the author argue that biographers are tasked with reporting all facets of a subject’s life, even those that are uncomfortable or contentious. As the paperback edition reaches readers, further debate is expected about the ethics of royal biography, the weight of anonymous sourcing, and how much private behaviour should be scrutinised when it involves public figures.