Duchess braves awards ceremony after sting

THE Duchess of York was putting on a brave face yesterday after being forced to issue an apology over an embarrassing newspaper sting in which she accepted money for access to her former husband.

Sarah Ferguson collected an award in the US for her charitable work hours after admitting a “serious lapse in judgment” over the affair.

The News of the World filmed her promising to introduce an undercover reporter posing as a wealthy businessman to Prince Andrew, Britain’s special representative for international trade and investment since 2001.