Sarah Ferguson and Meghan Markle should have been the closest of friends inside the Royal Family – but a surprise announcement revealed that wasn’t the case.
On paper, Fergie and Meghan have a lot in common and have faced similar issues inside The Firm.
Having been married to Prince Andrew for 10 years before the couple announced their “amicable split” in 1992, the Duchess of York knows all about the pressures of joining the Royal Family.
The 63-year-old has also experienced being pushed out to the cold by the royals and rebuilding her life in America, having been snubbed from weddings and other family engagements over the years.
While Fergie and Meghan got off to a great start, their relationship ever since has been rather rocky, culminating in Sarah admitting she “does not really know” her nephew’s wife.
So where did it all begin for the two duchesses?
They met for the first time at Royal Lodge in Windsor in October 2016, as Harry wanted his aunt to be one of the first royals to meet his new partner.
But there was some last-minute panic when the Sussexes realized that the late Queen was there – and Meghan had no idea how to curtsy.
Meghan said she didn’t do any research into the Royal Family when she first started seeing Harry and “didn’t fully understand what the job was”.
In her controversial interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan recounted: “And I remember Harry and I are in the car and he says, ‘okay, well, my, my grandmother’s there. So, you’re going to meet her.'”
She then had to learn “very quickly” outside the front of the Royal Lodge with Fergie. Meghan explained: “Right in front of the house we practiced and ran in.
“Fergie ran out and said, ‘Do you know how to curtsy?’… Apparently, I did a very deep curtsy, I don’t remember it, and then we sat there and we chatted.”
Harry also recalled the moment in his memoir Spare, describing how his aunt helped Meghan to learn how to act in front of his grandmother.
“First stop, Royal Lodge. To meet Fergie, because Meg already knew Fergie’s daughter Euge, and Jack, so this seemed a logical baby step,” he wrote.
“Fergie came outside, somewhat aflutter, and said: ‘Do you know how to curtsy?’ Meg shook her head. Fergie demonstrated once. Meg imitated her.
“As we walked towards the door Fergie and I both leaned into Meg, whispering quick reminders. When you first meet the Queen it’s Your Majesty. Thereafter it’s just Ma’am. Rhymes with ham.”
