Sarah Ferguson, affectionately known as “Fergie”, has not forgotten the woman who was her confidante and accomplice within the British royal family.
On Instagram, the Duchess of York shared a photo of herself and Diana on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, taken in September 1990. In the caption, she wrote: “Happy birthday to my dear friend, Diana. You were a pillar of light and love. And what a legacy you left behind. I will always remember our laughter and the kind spirit I found in you. I am sure you are always watching over us. Rest in peace, my friend.”
A message that speaks to the depth of the bonds that united the two women, well beyond their status as sisters-in-law within the monarchy. Fergie and Diana had known each other since adolescence, as the duchess recalled in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE in 2021: “We were best friends since she was 14 and I was 15.”
It was Diana who introduced Sarah to her future husband, Prince Andrew, at an event at Windsor Castle in 1985.
Happy memories and difficult times shared
Their friendship wasn’t limited to lighthearted moments. Fergie also revealed that they supported each other through hardships: “Diana and I both had our own mental health issues, and we would talk about them together,” she said. “She would say to me, ‘Fergie, remember one thing: when you’re on top of a pedestal, it’s so easy to fall off. And you’re at the bottom. You just have to climb back up.'”
Both divorced from their princes, the two women left their mark on the British monarchy with their modernity and their displays of affection towards their children.
A legacy that still lives on
Although their relationship had its ups and downs, including a falling out shortly before Diana’s tragic death in 1997, Sarah Ferguson, who beat breast cancer last year, has never stopped honouring her friend’s memory.
During an appearance on the show “Good Morning America” In 2023, Fergie said Diana would be “very proud” of her five grandchildren, from the unions of Princes William and Harry. With humor, she added: “I think we’ll have a grandmother contest. Because she’ll run faster in races.”
Today, Sarah Ferguson is once again a pillar of the royal family, taking care of Queen Elizabeth II’s corgis.
