Duchess: An Intimate Portrait of Sarah, Duchess of York

Royalty watchers will find little new in this admiring biography of ``Fergie,'' the ebullient Duchess of York whose unbuttoned behavior is grist for tabloids. We learn of her insecurities, perhaps resulting from the trauma of her parents' divorce, and their ensuing ill-starred affairs. Sarah Ferguson's romance with Prince Andrew was unexpected, even though both had been in the same circle of childhood friends. By background and lineage, she was acceptable to Queen Elizabeth and the Windsors, who were embarrassed by Andrew's publicized attentions to an American actress. The love-match aspect of the marriage is stressed, as well as royal ``firsts,'' such as Fergie's holding a job, piloting planes and choosing American decorators to design her new home. Morton ( Inside Kensington Palace ; Fodor's Royalty Watchers ) makes use of exclusive interviews with friends and relatives of the Duchess. Photos not seen by PW. (May)