The Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, has been secretly filmed allegedly offering to sell access to her former husband Prince Andrew.

Rupert Murdoch's tabloid newspaper News of the World says a reporter posing as a wealthy businessman offered her more than 500,000 pounds ($869,000) for an introduction to Prince Andrew, who is a special British trade representative.

It says she was secretly filmed last Tuesday night taking $48,000 cash as a down payment.

In return the Duchess is recorded promising to introduce the paper's undercover reporter to Prince Andrew, claiming he will help to fix lucrative deals.

"Look after me and he'll look after you," she said.

"You'll get it back tenfold. I can open any door you want."

But News of the World says Prince Andrew was totally unaware of the deal.

The Duchess herself is recorded describing her former husband as whiter than white.

- BBC