SARAH Ferguson was once married to a royal but became a campaigner for cancer checks in the decades that followed after being diagnosed with her second bout of the horror illness.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Duchess of York, who retained her royal title despite divorcing Prince Andrew.
How old is Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York?
Sarah Margaret Ferguson, who became known as Fergie, was born on October 15, 1959, at London Welbeck Hospital.
She was the second daughter of Major Ronald Ferguson and his first wife Susan.
After Sarah’s parents divorced in 1974, her mother married polo player Hector Barrantes in 1975 and moved to Trenque Lauquen in the Argentine pampas, but Sarah stayed at Dummer Down Farm in Hampshire, her father’s home since he was eight years old.
Sarah attended Daneshill School, Stratfield Turgis, before going to Hurst Lodge School in Ascot.
After finishing a course at Queen’s Secretarial College at the age of eighteen, Sarah went to work for an art gallery, two public relations firms in London, and then for a publishing company.
In the decades that followed, when the mum was 63, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
The shock find came in June 2023 after a routine mammogram.
What followed was a “successful” surgery to remove the cancer – and she was seen being driven around by ex-husband Prince Andrew.
Then, just months later, Sarah was diagnosed with an aggressive form of skin cancer.
On January 21, 2024, it was revealed the duchess had a mole removed which was found to be malignant melanoma – the most serious form of skin cancer.
She was said to be “in good spirits” but finding a second cancer diagnosis within six months as “distressing”.
When was her wedding to Prince Andrew?
On March 19, 1986, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson announced they would tie the knot.
The couple had known each other since they were young, and linked up occasionally at polo matches, but met again at Royal Ascot in 1985.
The Prince designed the engagement ring himself – creating a piece that was made up of ten diamonds that sat around a Burmese ruby – to complement Sarah’s red hair.
After securing the Queen‘s permission, Andrew and Sarah married in Westminster Abbey on July 23 the same year.
The Queen bestowed the title Duke of York upon Andrew, and Sarah automatically assumed her husband’s royal and ducal status and became Her Royal Highness The Duchess of York.
As Duchess of York, Sarah joined her husband in carrying out royal engagements.
On August 8, 1988, their first daughter Beatrice Elizabeth Mary was born.
Two years later, on March 23, 1990, they had their second child – Eugenie Victoria Helena.
The Duke and Duchess of York finally announced their separation on March 19, 1992, and announced their divorce in May 1996.
Although she retains the title of Duchess of York, should she marry again, Sarah would lose her title.
Following the split, Sarah got into writing, became a patron of a number of charities including Teenage Cancer Trust and Children in Crisis, as well as a television personality.
It has been reported that she was threatened with legal action by Jeffrey Epstein after she called him a paedo.
The Duchess of York spoke out against the disgraced financier in 2011 after it emerged she had accepted £15,000 from Epstein to pay her debts.
What has she said about the allegations against Prince Andrew?
Sarah Ferguson has always stood by and defended her “true gentleman” ex-husband Prince Andrew as he denies ever meeting Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged sex slave.
The Duchess of York said on Instagram the Prince was “giant of a principled man” ahead of his bombshell interview on BBC Newsnight.
Sarah wrote a message of support saying she was with him “every step of the way”.
The 60-year-old said: “It is so rare to meet people that able to speak from their hearts with honesty and pure real truth, that remain steadfast and strong to their beliefs.
“Andrew is a true and real gentleman and is stoically steadfast to not only his duty but also his kindness and goodness of always seeing the best of people.
“I am deeply supportive and proud of this giant of a principled man, that dares to put his shoulder to the wind and stands firm with his sense of honour and truth.
“For so many years he has gone about his duties for Great Britain and The Monarch.
“It is time for Andrew to stand firm now, and that he has, and I am with him every step of the way and that is my honour.
“We have always walked tall and strong, he for me and me for him.
“We are the best examples of joint parenting, with both our girls and go back to my three C’s – Communicate, Compromise, Compassion.”
Who are her daughters Beatrice and Eugenie?
Princess Beatrice of York is the eldest child of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.
A granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, she is currently ninth in line to the throne and works as a business consultant.
The Princess studied a BA in History and History of Ideas at Goldsmiths College, London, and graduated in 2011 with a 2:1 degree.
Beatrice, who is based in the US, split from her long-term partner Dave Clark in August 2016 after being together for ten years.
In 2020 she married Italian aristocrat Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
Then, in September 2021, the pair welcomed their first child to the world – a daughter named Sienna.
Princess Eugenie of York is the younger daughter of Andrew and Sarah.
She is eleventh in line of succession to the British throne and since 2015 she has worked for the Hauser & Wirth art gallery in London as an associate director.
In January 2018, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s engagement was announced by Buckingham Palace after the 28-year-old got engaged to the nightclub manager in Nicaragua.
The couple began dating in 2011 after they met while skiing in the Swiss resort of Verbier.
They married on October 12, 2018, at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, the same venue as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Eugenie gave birth to her first child, August Philip Hawke Brooksbank, on February 9, 2021.
The choice of Philip as a middle name pays tribute to Eugenie’s grandfather Prince Philip.
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Her second child, Ernest, was born in May 2023.
Eugenie said: “Augie is loving being a big brother already.”
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