The award has raised eyebrows in some quarters, but Sarah, Duchess of York looked delighted as she appeared at the St. Regus Hotel in New York City for the ceremony which saw her named The American Cancer Society's Mother of The Year.

Wearing a demure suit accessoried with a jewelled cross, Prince Andrew's former wife happily posed for photographs with a range of famous faces, including a woman who likely isn't high on the Royal Family's Christmas card list: the New York Post's often waspish gossip columnist Cindy Adams.

Although there have been negative comments about the fact Sarah has been awarded this title, the fact is she is valued by many in the world of charity thanks to her work with a wide range of organisations, including several involved in helping cancer sufferers.

Such work is often overlooked due to Sarah's unfortunate ability to say, and at times do, the wrong thing. However, soon after she entered the Royal Family on her marriage to Prince Andrew in 1986, the Duchess embarked on a number of ventures which saw her bringing not a little hope to those less fortunate than herself.

One of many examples of her worth outside the confines of the ability to fill gossip columns came in 1988 when, on hearing the story of a 22-year-old man who had been diagnosed with cancer, she tracked down his details and phoned him every single day to check on his progress.

On a personal note, the 47-year-old Duchess has witnessed for herself the ravishes of the disease. In the past decade alone, Sarah has mourned the deaths from cancer of her father, Major Ronald Ferguson and her best friend, Carolyn Cotterrell.

Although not at the event, the Duchess's daughters paid effusive tribute to their mother.

Speaking on a pre-recorded video broadcast on a big screen to diners at the Manhattan lunch, 18-year-old Princess Beatrice told Sarah: "I love you so much that it's really quite indescribable. Your life, your love and your creativity have blessed me so much and blessed so many people."

Princess Eugenie was equally effusive, saying: "I'm so, so proud of you. I love you and I'm so lucky to have you for my mummy."

Explaining why the Queen's former daughter-in-law has been honoured with an award previously given to  this way, a spokesman for the charity explained: "Sarah was chosen because, despite everything she does — all her charity work, all her public speaking, all her work for Weight Watchers, all the books she has written — she is first and foremost a mother."

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Name: Carol B.	Comment: The fact that her outfit is the ugliest thing I've seen her wear in years notwithstanding, I say "bravo" to you, Sarah! Not many want to let you put a good foot right, but some of us are still out there cheering you on.

Name: Trudie

Comment: Please don't get me wrong I like Sarah but the spokesman for the charity states she is first and foremost a mother!!!. Well she is a mother but in her case she had it easy to do all her work having nannies and her children having the ability to be in boarding school. There are many involved in the cancer society who have the responsibility of caring for an ill relative and and their own children without help. These are the women who should be given the award. If Sarah did not have the ability to have nannies and so forth to rely on she could not possibly do all the work she has done in the last 10 years.