Courtesy photo As one of the Distinguished Speakers, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, also known as Fergie, spoke Monday at the Civic Art Plaza in Thousand Oaks. She spoke candidly of her life with British royalty.

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, visited the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Monday night to talk candidly about her life as part of the British royal family and her life since her highly publicized marriage ended in 1992.

Ferguson, popularly known as "Fergie," spoke before the nearly sold-out show as part of the Distinguished Speaker Series, which brings celebrities, politicians and other well-known personalities to the Civic Arts Plaza.

Ferguson spoke about her weight, her marriage and divorce from Prince Andrew, her humanitarian work, Queen Elizabeth, and even her choice for the next U.S. president.

She told the audience her struggle with her weight began during her teenage years shortly after her parents' divorce.

"My only friend was food. My pet ponies and food got me through," she said. "I learned how food can be so mind-altering and depressing."

Ferguson said she was thrust into the limelight after she married Prince Andrew, fourth in line to the British throne. The brief "honeymoon" she had with the media turned sour, with the British media dubbing her the "Duchess of Pork" after her much-publicized weight gain.

Ferguson said becoming the spokeswoman for Weight Watchers helped her shed the pounds she gained after her failed marriage and the deaths of family members and friends, including Princess Diana.

"Diana and I had the most wonderful friendship, but the press was always comparing us two," she said.

Ferguson said she and Prince Andrew still share a home where they raise their teenage daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, but they have no plans to remarry.

"(My wedding day) was the happiest day of my life. I still do love my handsome prince, but it just works better for us this way to keep things the way they are," she said.

After her marriage ended, Ferguson said, she came to the U.S. where Americans "saved her" and forgave her for mistakes she made in Britain.

She also found a sense of peace through her charitable work.

She is involved with a number of children's charities throughout the world.

"My grandma gave the advice When in doubt, go and give to others.' It's in giving that we receive," she said. "The world's children deserve to have the life my children had."

About her relationship with Queen Elizabeth, Ferguson said: "She's a wonderful grandmother, and I'm honored to be part of her family I hope she doesn't retire. Long may she reign."

In the campaign for U.S. president, Ferguson said, she favors Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York. "I really like Hillary a lot. She's been around like me."

Karen Walker, a Thousand Oaks resident, came to the Civic Arts Plaza because she wanted to see Ferguson, whom she considers to be one of the most famous women in the world.

"She's so charismatic and down to earth, which was nice to see," said Walker, who went to the stage to shake Ferguson's hand after her speech. "And it's not every day you get to see royalty in Thousand Oaks and be so up close and personal with them."