Among the 2,000 mourners at
Westminster Abbey was Sarah Ferguson – ex-wife of Prince Andrew and
mother to Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
The 62-year-old was seen
supporting her grieving daughters and sat behind the Prince and Princess of
Wales for the service, alongside her youngest Beatrice.
Despite her divorce from
Andrew in 1996, Sarah has retained a strong connection to the royals. She also
lives with her ex-husband at The Royal Lodge, in Windsor Great Park.
She also stayed close to her
late mother-in-law and, as such, was included in Monday’s events. Even after
the end of her marriage, Sarah would be invited to spend time at Balmoral during
the Queen’s summer break.
Their bond was particularly
evident in the loving tribute to the Queen that Sarah shared following her
death on 8 September. It read, in part: “To me, she was the most
incredible mother-in-law and friend.
“I will always be
grateful to her for the generosity she showed me in remaining close to me
even after my divorce. I will miss her more than words can express.”
Notably, Sarah did not attend
the funeral for Prince Philip following his death in April 2021,
however.
At the time, there was
speculation about the strained relationship between the pair. But the reason
for her absence was far more straightforward.
The guest list was strictly
limited due to COVID-19 restrictions. Just 30 people were in attendance –
including the grieving Queen, Sarah’s ex-husband Andrew and their two daughters.
It’s thought that Sarah
actually spent the day looking after her grandchildren, August and Sienna.