Video appears to show duchess selling access to Prince Andrew

　　

　　

　　

　　Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, is the ex-wife of Prince Andrew, a U.K. trade envoy.

　　STORY HIGHLIGHTS

　　British tabloid posts video of Sarah Ferguson meeting with undercover reporter

　　Video appears to show her accepting money in exchange for access to ex-husband

　　Ferguson apologizes: "I very deeply regret the situation"

　　Ferguson admits having financial problems but says that's no excuse

　　London, England (CNN) -- A British tabloid posted a video on its Web site Sunday that appears to show Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, accepting money from an undercover reporter in exchange for access to her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, a U.K. trade envoy.

　　Ferguson is also filmed on hidden camera telling the News of the World reporter -- who was posing as a wealthy businessman -- that a payment of 500,000 pounds ($723,000) "opens doors" to Andrew. She then shakes hands with the reporter after he accepts the deal.

　　In a statement issued Sunday, Ferguson apologized for the incident.

　　"I very deeply regret the situation and the embarrassment caused," the statement said. "It is true that my financial situation is under stress, however, that is no excuse for a serious lapse in judgment and I am very sorry that this has happened."

　　The tabloid said its reporter and Ferguson met on two occasions, once in New York and another time in London.

　　

 

　　

　　

Video: Ferguson on charity

　　

 

　　

　　

　　In the heavily edited, roughly four-minute video, Ferguson appears to accept 40,000 pounds ($58,000) as a down payment for a meeting with Andrew, then later discusses a wire transfer of the larger sum.

　　"If we want to do a big deal with Andrew, then that's the big one," she says.

　　When asked how she would receive the 500,000 pounds, she tells the reporter, "You send it to the bank account that I tell you to send it to."

　　"Then that, is then like you open up all the channels whatever you need, whatever you want ... and then you meet Andrew and that's fine. And that's ... when you really open up whatever you want. But then that opens up everything that ever you would ever wish."

　　The tabloid said Prince Andrew, who has been the U.K.'s special representative for international trade and business since 2001, was not aware of the deal.

　　In the video, Ferguson tells the reporter that Andrew "never does accept a penny for anything. ... He does not and will not and he is completely whiter than white."

　　In her statement Sunday, Ferguson confirmed Andrew, the Duke of York, "was not aware or involved in any of the discussions that occurred. ... The Duke has made a significant contribution to his business role over the last 10 years and has always acted with complete integrity."