Sarah Ferguson was one of the first royals Meghan met when she was introduced to her now-husband’s family – and now Fergie has offered up a fresh perspective on her relationship with the Duchess
When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle first started dating, she had to be introduced to the vast Royal Family.
And the couple has not held back in offering up details about the Duchess’ first meetings with several of Harry’s royal relatives in the early days of their romance. Between their controversial Netflix series and Harry’s memoir, Spare, the pair have lifted the lid on what it was like for Meghan to meet the likes of King Charles and the Prince and Princess of Wales for the first time.
However, among the first royals to actually meet Meghan – even before the late Queen – was Harry’s aunt Sarah Ferguson, who celebrates her 65th birthday today.
In the Netflix series, Meghan described how she went to Fergie and her ex-husband Prince Andrew’s Royal Lodge home for lunch and when learning that the late monarch was going to drop by, the Duchess of York gave the former Suits star a lesson in how to curtsey.
Similarly, Harry wrote in Spare how Fergie asked Meghan “Do you know how to curtsy?” He added: “Meg shook her head. Fergie demonstrated once. Meg imitated her.” It seemed that Fergie had struck up a bond with her nephew and his new love interest and when they married and later lived at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, they would have been neighbours to Andrew and Fergie.
However, in an interview with The Telegraph last year, Fergie cryptically said: “I don’t really know Meghan. I haven’t really met her.” She added: “I spoke to her at the funeral, and I thought she looked absolutely beautiful. I think she is beautiful. She has made Harry very happy, and that is so nice. Honestly, he’s so happy with her. She really loves him. And I think that’s beautiful – and that Diana would be proud of him and her lovely grandchildren.”
Earlier this year, Fergie shared a candid insight into Royal Family life, as she made a veiled reference to the ongoing friction taking place within the royal ranks, including Harry’s feud with his father King Charles and brother Prince William.
Speaking to PEOPLE magazine, she opened up about family togetherness, telling the publication: “I think family unity is key… I think the key to life is that we all support each other.” The Duchess then added: “And also forgiveness is a great thing. I think forgiveness of yourself and forgiveness of others.”
In recent months, Fergie has increasingly been welcomed back into the royal fold attending several family events alongside her ex-husband Prince Andrew. At Christmas, she joined the royals at Sandringham for their annual walk to church on Christmas morning and attended a memorial service for the former King Constantine of Greece at Windsor Castle in February.
In March she was also among a select few members of the Royal Family that joined King Charles for the annual Easter Sunday service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.
