Duchess Sarah Ferguson's royal redemption

Sarah Ferguson gets tough love from Oprah gurus Dr. Phil and Suze Orman as she goes “in search of understanding what self-hatred is [and] of finding self-worth” in a reality series premiering Sunday, Finding Sarah (June 12, 9 p.m. ET, OWN). After facing her demons, the Duchess of York, 51, felt confident enough to give us some revelations about her old and new self.

Low point:

The infamous video from last May that appears to show Ferguson selling a businessman access to her former husband, Prince Andrew. Ferguson says the press “twisted” and “sensationalized” the story, and what she was really doing was offering the man an opportunity “to invest in a start-up company.”

Before Oprah's intervention:

She was at rock-bottom — “a place where you sit bolt-upright on a 12-hour flight to Los Angeles with an eye mask on with your eyes wide open.”

Family ties:

“We have a good relationship,” Ferguson says about her ex, to whom she was married for 10 years and with whom she still shares a home. “He is my most special person I’ve ever met. The best day in my life was when I went down that aisle. We’re a family unit, the four of us.” (They have two daughters, Beatrice, 22, and Eugenie, 21.)

The newest royal couple:

“She’s learned about life in the royal family,” she says of Prince William’s bride, Catherine. “Diana and I [each] met and married very quickly. I hope and pray the mistakes we made can help William and Catherine with their future. Diana would be so proud.”

Her princesses:

“They both looked utterly beautiful, and to be called ‘the ugly sisters’ is outrageous,” says Ferguson, referring to the drumming her daughters got in the press for their royal-wedding attire. “It’s one thing to have a go at me, but keep away from young people who are trying their best in a very, very difficult environment.”

The queen of England:

“One of the greatest ladies I’ve ever met in my life is my mother-in-law, and I’m just very lucky to even be able to say that,” she says. “I love her.”

Childhood trauma:

After doing “the work,” Ferguson now realizes her feelings of self-worth have been “diabolical” since she was 12, when her mother left to live in Argentina.“She just disappeared one day and slammed the door and never came home,” says the duchess. “I always thought it was my fault that I failed at sorting out their marriage and I pushed my mother away. It was a deep, ingrained trauma that eventually played out in lack of worth.In doing that you then self-sabotage, which I did brilliantly, didn’t I?”

Royal success:

“The best thing I’ve ever done is be a good mother,” Ferguson says. “Everybody can take everything away from Sarah, but no one can take my mothering away. The girls are really sublimely great girls: human, feet on the ground and completely with love and understanding.”

High hopes:

“My dream job is to be the British Martha Stewart,” she says, admitting she may need some help to get there. “Let’s be practical. I’ll get a great cook to help me. I’ll find a twist.”

Moving on:

“Dr. Phil told me I’m an addict to acceptance and approval. I’m simply Sarah now. I’m a work in progress.”An answer to my critics is that I am deeply regretful and so remorseful for, I suppose, bursting the bubble of fairy tale illusion but all I can do is go forward best foot possible.”