Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson was a surprise guest at Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s royal wedding
AFTER eight years in the royal wilderness, the scandal-plagued former Duchess of York lapped up her first royal invite in eight years, which many thought she would not receive.
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PRINCE Harry’s aunt Sarah Ferguson is back.
After eight years in the royal wilderness, the scandal-plagued former Duchess of York lapped up her first royal invite in eight years, which many thought she would not receive.
Fergie, as she is known, arrived separately from her ex-husband Prince Andrew and daughters Beatrice and Eugenie — who themselves avoided the fashion critique which plagued them at the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s nuptials in 2011 — but didn’t seem to mind giving dramatic waves to the press pack.
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Social media lit up with chatter over 58-year-old’s wedding attire, which included wearing just a single glove. Michael Jackson jokes came thick and fast from Twitter commentators, as she wore the one black glove on her right hand and bizarrely carried the other one.
She wore a fitted navy dress with a blazer with pink trimmings and a matching fascinator.
It was the first royal wedding the Duchess has attended since her own to Andrew in 1986.
She was cut off by the royals after a series of scandals which included being photographed having her toes sucked by her lover while she was still married to Andrew and culminated in 2010 when she was caught in a News of The World sting agreeing to sell access to her ex-husband for $820,000.
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However while the Duchess was one of 600 guests at the chapel she was not invited to the private evening party for 200 VIPs.
Royal historian Victoria Howard told News Corp that Harry may have invited his aunt because she had been a close friend of his late mother Diana.
“Harry grew up with her as an aunt so it makes sense for her to be there. Clearly Harry has a bit of a closer relationship with her than William, perhaps because of Diana,” Ms Howard said.
In 2013, Fergie went skiing with Harry and his then-girlfriend Cressida Bonas in 2013.
Diana’s former press secretary Dickie Arbiter, however, told News Corp Fergie wasn’t back in the royal family just yet.
“She attended as an individual not as a member of the royal family. She also wasn’t invited to the reception held by Prince Charles,” he said.
The Duchess’ foray back into the royal circle could also been seen as a warm up for her own daughter Eugenie’s wedding to Jack Brooksbank in October. Like Harry and Meghan, the pair is getting married at St George’s Chapel.
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