Fergie has frosty words for U.K. talk-show host

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, had a testy exchange with the host of a British TV talk show when the topic turned to the royal family.

The former daughter-in-law of Queen Elizabeth II was being interviewed on Channel 4's "Richard and Judy" show Tuesday when host Richard Madeley said, "A couple of quick questions about the Windsors . . ."

"I suppose you have to, don't you?" Ferguson replied.

When asked if she is still on speaking terms with Prince Philip, her former father-in-law, she gave a curt "yes."

Madeley persisted and asked if there was any possibility she would get back together with her former husband, the Duke of York.

"I really thought I was going to come onto this show and you were really honestly going to take Sarah Ferguson as Sarah Ferguson — a single working mother with two girls," she replied.

"I'm very serious about what I do. OK? And don't make a mockery of it, all right?" She told the host he'd been warned "not to go there" on the topic of the royal family before the show started.