Will Sarah Ferguson be invited to the Queen's funeral?

Fergie left out in the cold: Duchess of York will not join senior royals at the funeral procession and missed out on the Balmoral walkabout – but she IS ‘expected to attend the funeral’

Sarah Ferguson hasn’t been seen joining family at events mourning the Queen
The Duchess of York was married to the Queen’s ‘favourite son’ for 10 years
Didn’t appear with Prince Andrew, Beatrice and Eugenie at Balmoral on Friday
It is not believed she was at Buckingham Palace last night to receive coffin
She paid tribute to her former mother-in-law the monarch earlier this week
Fergie thanked Queen for being the most ‘incredible mother-in-law and friend’
She added she was so ‘generous’ in ‘remaining close’ even after her divorce
Full coverage: Click here to see all our coverage of the Queen’s passing

Sarah Ferguson missed out on the Balmoral walkabout with her daughters and is not set to join the Queen’s funeral procession today – however she is ‘expected to attend the monarch’s funeral’ on Monday.

The Duchess of York, who is also known as Fergie, was married to the Queen’s ‘favourite son’ Prince Andrew for 10 years before they split in 1992 and divorced in 1996.

She continued to live with the Duke in their home of the Royal Lodge in Windsor, and has spoken frequently of her regard for her former mother-in-law, the monarch, whom she called her ‘greatest mentor.’

According to The Telegraph, the mother-of–two is thought to have been invited to the funeral – however she has not been seen in the days following the Queen’s death.

She was seen glued to her phone at Venice airport on Thursday ahead of the announcement of the royal’s death, however she has not been pictured joining the family at any events since.

The mother-of-two, who shares her two daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie with Andrew, has sparked a raft of royal scandals over the years, and did not attend Prince Philip’s funeral or memorial service.

Sarah Ferguson, 61, has described the Queen as more of a mother to her than her own was while speaking on a podcast

Despite splitting from Andrew in 1992 and then divorcing him in 1996, Fergie – the mother of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie – has been living with the Duke of York for the past 13 years.

However her relationship with some of those in the royal family has been strained over the years.

She famously fell out with the Duke of Edinburgh after she was photographed having her toes sucked by her financial adviser in the south of France five months after splitting from Andrew.

Philip had described the duchess as ‘odd’ and ‘pointless’, and would even ask for her to leave Balmoral, the royal estate in Scotland, during holidays before he arrived

Despite having a close relationship with the Queen, Fergie has not been seen at any memorial events for the Queen this week (pictured, the Duke of York, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice in Balmoral earlier this week)

The Duke of Edinburgh is also said to have prevented other Royals from bailing her out during periods of financial difficulties and cannot fathom her continuing closeness to ex-husband Prince Andrew.

Royal insider Gyles Brandreth said that while Her Majesty had tea with Sarah from time to time after her separation from Andrew – Philip was resolute in his desire never to see Fergie again.

However Sarah reportedly never attempted to build bridges with the Duke over the years, sending him a ‘a handsome dinner service’ on his 80th birthday – to which Philip responded with a note signed ‘With love’ from ‘Pa’.

In October 2018, the two were pictured together for the first time in years as they stood shoulder to shoulder at Princess Eugenie’s wedding.

Sarah, who was married to the Queen’s ‘favourite son’ Prince Andrew for 10 years, is believed to have been close to the monarch, Pictured, at the Braemar Highland Games in 1990

The Duchess was said to be a ‘bag of nerves’ at meeting Philip. Despite their much-publicised feud, the mother of the bride had to stand behind the left shoulder of her former father-in-law for photographs in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle.

She did not attend Prince Philip’s funeral amid the Covid-19 pandemic, and didn’t join her family at the memorial service earlier this year either.

While more than 1,500 guests packed into Westminster Abbey to remember the Duke of Edinburgh, including members of the Queen’s extended royal family, one notable absentee was the Duchess.

Despite tensions with Prince Philip, it was known that Sarah was significantly closer to the Queen, and she is believed to have been a shoulder of support following the Duke’s death.

The Duchess of York looked serious as she left Venice on Thursday, following a glitzy appearance at the film festival

Since Philip’s death at the age of 99 last April, Fergie was allowed somewhat back into the fold – visiting the Queen’s Scotland retreat Balmoral with her ex-husband in August last year.

The Duchess had been invited to the Deeside castle in previous years, but had stayed for just a few days until the Duke of Edinburgh joined the Queen.

Royal watchers believed that the Queen, who had a soft spot for her former daughter-in-law, was more receptive to the idea of Sarah returning to a more prominent role within the Firm after the Duke’s death.

Last year, an insider told the Sun: ‘They have been going on short walks around the gardens with the Queen and her corgis.

‘Sarah’s very much in the fold now that the Duke of Edinburgh has gone. The Queen has always had a soft spot for Sarah and regards her as an excellent mother.’

And the Duchess was among the first to publicly pay tribute to her former mother-in-law the Queen following her death aged 96

And speaking on the Tea with Twiggy podcast as she promoted her Mills & Boon romance novel Her Heart For A Compass, the duchess paid tribute to the Queen for being ‘modern, flexible and forgiving.’

Sarah compared their relationship to the one she had with her own mother Susan Barrantes, who passed away in September 1998, saying: ‘I think to myself that honestly my mother-in-law has been more of a mother to me than my mother.’

She continued: ‘My greatest mentor and… person who believes in me is the Queen – and has never faltered.

‘I absolutely admire the incredible way Her Majesty is so modern… and how flexible, and how understanding, and how forgiving and how generous.’

Earlier this week, she was pictured glued to her phone as she travelled from Venice airport amid the news of the Queen’s ailing health.

And she was among the first members of the royal family to pay tribute to the monarch after her death.

.While Prince Andrew was photographed alongside their daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie looking at floral tributes to the Queen over the weekend, Fergie did not appear to join them (pictured)

At the time, the Duke of York appeared to be supporting their daughters, who were both openly weeping (pictured)

She praised the Queen as a ‘fantastic example of duty and service and steadfastness.’

On a personal note, she thanked the Queen for being ‘the most incredible mother-in-law and friend’, adding: ‘I will always be grateful to her for the generosity she showed me in remaining close to me even after my divorce.’

Following news of the Queen’s death, Fergie wrote: ‘I am heartbroken by the passing of Her Majesty the Queen.

‘She leaves behind an extraordinary legacy: the most fantastic example of duty and service and steadfastness, and a constant steadying presence as our head of state for more than 70 years.

‘She has given her whole life selflessly to the people of the UK and the Commonwealth.

The family came together for a second time last night as Prince Andrew, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, as well as their husbands Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Jack Brooksbank, received the Queen’s coffin at Buckingham Palace (pictured, Edo and Beatrice)

It is not believed Sarah was included in this poignant family moment, which saw the Yorks come together with other members of The Firm (pictured, Eugenie and Jack)

‘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.’

In another sign of her closeness to the monarch, Prince Andrew and Sarah have said that they will look after two of the Queen’s beloved corgis following her death.

Muick and Sandy, who will now be adopted by the Queen’s third son and Ms Ferguson, were gifted to the late Queen following the death of Prince Philip.

Earlier this week, the Duke of York’s spokesperson confirmed that the two dogs will live at the Royal Lodge in Windsor, where the divorced couple reside.

It was believed the pair had been walking the dogs in the months leading to the Queen’s death.

However, Sarah has not joined other members at the royal family at any memorial events for the monarch.

While Prince Andrew was photographed alongside their daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie looking at floral tributes to the Queen over the weekend, Fergie did not appear to join them.

It is not known whether she was at the castle in Scotland with her family and was not included in the poignant moment, or whether she was not invited.

At the time, the Duke of York appeared to be supporting their daughters, who were both openly weeping.

The sisters held hands as they tearily looked at floral tributes to the Queen, while Prince Andrew wrapped his arms around them in hugs and across their shoulders to support them.

It is not believed Sarah was included in this poignant family moment, which saw the Yorks come together with other members of The Firm – including Prince Harry and Meghan.

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