Paddy McNally, the wealthy former Formula One executive and one-time partner of Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has died, prompting reflection on his fortune and its potential impact on Fergie's long-standing financial troubles. McNally, whose lavish lifestyle and parties earned him the nickname "Cocaine Castle" party king, was reportedly worth around £600 million, and speculation has turned to what he may have left the Duchess in his will.

Royal commentator Caroline Graham suggests McNally is likely to have left Fergie a house and a sum of cash rather than a single lump payment, reasoning that a large one-off inheritance would risk being spent quickly given her history of financial difficulties. The arrangement, if confirmed, would be seen as a more sustainable way of easing the money worries that have dogged the Duchess for years, though full details of the will have not yet been made public.