Who's Invited To The Royal Wedding? Sarah Ferguson Snubbed?

There was much speculation as to whether Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, would be invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. Ferguson had not been invited to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011, and her relationship with the royal family had been strained since her divorce from Prince Andrew in 1996. However, it was eventually confirmed that Ferguson would be in attendance at Harry and Meghan's wedding ceremony, but not the private evening reception.

Sarah Ferguson's relationship with the royal family

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has had a somewhat tumultuous relationship with the royal family over the years. She married Prince Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II, in 1986, and the couple had two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. However, the marriage ended in divorce in 1996, and Sarah was stripped of her Royal Highness title.

In the years following her divorce, Sarah was involved in several scandals that fractured her relationship with the royal family, particularly with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. One notable incident involved Sarah being photographed with another man, which reportedly horrified Prince Philip, who vowed never to be in the same room as her again. Despite this, Sarah maintained a positive relationship with her ex-husband, and even continued to live with him at his home, Royal Lodge, in Windsor.

In recent years, Sarah appears to have been welcomed back into the royal fold to some extent. In 2018, she attended the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and in 2022, she was invited by King Charles to spend Christmas with the royal family, marking her first Christmas with them in over 30 years. She has also grown closer to Queen Camilla and has reportedly always been loyal to the royal family and never spoken a critical word against them.

Sarah has been praised for her charity work, which has included supporting cancer patients and children. She has also been open about her own health struggles, including a breast cancer diagnosis in 2023 and a malignant melanoma diagnosis in 2024.

Despite the ups and downs, Sarah has always maintained a connection to the royal family, and her attendance at recent events suggests that she is on good terms with at least some members of the royal family.

Who invited Sarah Ferguson to the wedding

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, was invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, which took place on May 19, 2018. While it was initially believed that she would not be in attendance, she was, in fact, invited to the ceremony but not the private evening reception that followed.

Ferguson hinted that it was the Queen who gave her approval to be invited to the wedding. During an appearance on Good Morning Britain, she praised the Queen, saying, "What an icon to the country, and one of the finest people I've ever met. She leads by such example and to include me is a wonderful gesture." Ferguson also expressed her gratitude to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for inviting her, saying she felt "honored" and "grateful."

Prince Harry is said to have pushed for Ferguson to receive an invite to the wedding, as he is particularly close to her daughter, Princess Eugenie, who was instrumental in introducing him to his previous girlfriend, Cressida Bonas.

Sarah Ferguson's thoughts on being invited

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, was reportedly invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, which took place on May 19, 2018. While she was on the guest list for the ceremony, she was notably not invited to the more intimate evening reception hosted by Prince Charles.

Ferguson expressed her gratitude for being included in the special occasion, saying she felt "honored" and "grateful" to be invited. She also acknowledged that it was a nerve-wracking experience, as she walked into the church in front of the press and crowd gathered outside St. George's Chapel.

During an appearance on Good Morning Britain, Ferguson implied that Queen Elizabeth II was the one who invited her to the wedding. She praised the Queen, calling her "an incredible lady" and "one of the finest people I've ever met." Ferguson also reflected on her own experiences with the media scrutiny that comes with being a member of the royal family.

In contrast to her inclusion in Harry and Meghan's wedding, Ferguson was notably not invited to Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011, which she admitted was difficult for her. She revealed that Prince Andrew had tried to comfort her at the time, reminding her of their own "perfect" wedding day.

In a later interview, Ferguson commented on the challenges of navigating life after leaving the royal family, stating, "You can't have it both ways... You're either in or out." While she did not directly reference Harry and Meghan in this context, she emphasized the need to accept the consequences of leaving royal life.

Sarah Ferguson's attendance at Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, was not invited to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011. She later told Oprah Winfrey that she had spent the weekend of the wedding in a spa in Thailand, adding that she "was not invited".

Ferguson reflected on her absence from the wedding in a 2021 interview with Town & Country, saying: "I didn't think I was probably worthy to go to their wedding. I took myself to Thailand, actually, to be far away from it so that I could try and heal."

Ferguson's daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, both attended the wedding, as did her ex-husband, Prince Andrew.

Sarah Ferguson's relationship with her ex-husband, Prince Andrew

Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew's relationship has been a major topic of discussion in British monarchy history. The two first met as children and reconnected in 1985, starting a relationship later that year. They married in 1986, and their wedding was a major event, with the couple kissing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following the ceremony. They went on to have two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

However, the marriage was not to last, and the couple separated in 1992, divorcing four years later. The separation and divorce attracted much media coverage, and Sarah endured widespread ridicule after photographs of her with another man were published. Despite this, the former couple have remained close, with Sarah stating that they are the "happiest divorced couple" she knows. They have also sparked rumours of remarriage, with Sarah hinting that the breakdown of their marriage was due to the amount of time they spent apart.

In recent years, Sarah has stood by Andrew's side through various scandals, including accusations of sexual assault and his affiliation with Jeffrey Epstein. She has described him as a ""kind, good man" and a "fabulous father". They have also been seen in public together, making care packages for frontline workers during the coronavirus pandemic. While a romantic reunion has been deemed "unlikely" by some, the pair certainly seem to have a strong bond, with Sarah stating, "My duty is to him. I am so proud of him. I stand by him and always will."

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