Sarah Ferguson's NYC Confession: Hot Dogs, Yellow Cabs, and a Posh American Accent

Sarah Ferguson's NYC Love Affair: Hot Dogs, Yellow Cabs, and a Posh American Accent

The Duchess of York, affectionately known as Fergie, has a soft spot for New York City. During her recent visit, she announced the launch of the Youth Impact Council, a new non-profit organization she'll serve as Founding Ambassador for. The council aims to amplify the voices of young activists working on climate action, social justice, and innovation.

Fergie dished about her quintessential NYC experiences in an interview with PEOPLE. "I like to get yellow cabs," she shared, adding, "My favorite film is An Affair to Remember, so every time I see the Empire State Building I think of Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. I know you've seen Sleepless in Seattle, but I remember An Affair to Remember with Cary Grant."

Fergie even confessed to her love for a classic New York treat: "It was so good! And everyone laughed at me, saying, 'You can’t possibly eat the hot dog.' And I said, 'Oh, yeah,' got in the car, and what did they do? [They] all wanted to eat it!"

The Duchess also discussed her evolving relationship with the American language, saying: "New York has been my home. The American people are extraordinarily kind to me. I feel I am very Anglo-American. I know the language. I got it down. I don’t say 'lift,' I say 'elevator.' When I arrive in America, I speak American. Sort of. With a posh voice," she jokes.

Fergie's passion for empowering young people shines through her support for the YIC. The group celebrated its launch at Climate Week 2024 with a ceremony honoring its inaugural cohort, with future plans to expand its membership globally.

At the event, Fergie shared a heartwarming moment with her daughter, Princess Beatrice, captured in a video on Instagram. The Duchess, who is soon to be a grandmother of four, also spoke about how both her daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, are making a difference in the world: "This is the university of life for me — to be learning from young people who are out there doing the work. Beatrice and Eugenie are out there doing the work. Eugenie does a lot with The Anti-Slavery Collective, Beatrice does an enormous amount in technology and with dyslexia and believes in humanity in the workplace, with compassion."

Fergie plans to bring her own experience and values to the YIC, saying: "I believe I was able to help guide them into this place they are. [Those are the values] I’m going to bring to the youth leaders of Gen Z."