Why Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, Is Skipping King Charles's Coronation
Westminster Abbey is sure to be packed for King Charles III's coronation on May 6, but at least one familiar face won't be there to pay their respects. Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, the former sister-in-law of the king, has not been invited to the event.
Though the lack of invite has been read as a snub by many fans, the duchess herself has downplayed such suggestions. During a guest appearance on the show Good Morning Britain, Fergie explained,"It's a state occasion, and being divorced I don't think you can have it both ways. I am divorced and I'm really loving being divorced to my ex-husband; not from him but to him, it's important to differentiate." She added, "That's a lovely feeling to be part of, it really is. As I said you can't have it both ways. You mustn't sit on the fence. You're either in or out, don't muck around. ... The great thing about this moment in time is the unity of family, and I think that Charles and Camilla are doing an exceptional job at unifying the family."
As for what she will be up to as members of the royal family head to Westminster Abbey, Ferguson said on the talk show Loose Women, "I personally will be having a little tearoom and coronation chicken sandwich and putting out the bunting, that's what I'm going to be doing. Because that would make me very happy." She later told People, "I'm very supportive of the King and the Queen Consort, and I really am glad to do whatever it takes to support them on their road ahead."
Though she won't be at the formal service, it has been confirmed that she will join the royal family for the Coronation Concert starring the likes of Lionel Richie and Katy Perry, which is set to take place at Windsor Castle the following day.
Also known to the public as Fergie, Ferguson is the ex-wife of Charles's younger brother Prince Andrew, and the mother of Charles's nieces, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, both of whom are expected to be at the ceremony. Andrew is no longer involved in the duties of the royal family following controversies about his connection with Jeffrey Epstein, and has not been officially confirmed to attend the coronation, but is also widely expected to be at the service along with his siblings, Princess Anne and Prince Edward.
Ferguson has long occupied an unconventional position in the royal family: she and Andrew married in 1986 in an elaborate royal wedding, but split up in 1992 in a divorce marked by public scandal. Nonetheless, the couple has continued to live together at the Royal Lodge in Windsor throughout the subsequent decades, and even took over the care of Queen Elizabeth's beloved corgis after the monarch's death last September. Though she's no longer officially a royal, it's not uncommon to see her alongside her daughters at royal events, which originally led some to speculate that she might also be invited to the coronation.
The news about Ferguson not attending the coronation came on the heels of Buckingham Palaces's announcement that they were "pleased to confirm" that Charles's son Prince Harry will be in attendance for the event, however Harry's wife, Meghan Markle, will remain in California with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Harry himself is only expected to be in the UK briefly—he reportedly plans to travel back to the U.S. shortly after the coronation to celebrate Archie's 4th birthday, which takes place the same day.
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