Sarah Ferguson Reveals Private Relationship with Queen Elizabeth II

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, has opened up about her relationship with Queen Elizabeth II in her memoirs, originally published in 1996.

Despite reports of a strained relationship between the two, Fergie revealed that she referred to Her Majesty as “Mama” behind closed doors.

Ferguson married into the royal family in 1986 when she wed Prince Andrew, the Queen's second son.

The couple went on to have two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie, but divorced in 1996, with the Duchess making headlines for all the wrong reasons in the following years.

Despite their separation, Fergie noted that her relationship with the Queen remained consistent.

“In private, I called her Mama when she waved me to sit next to her in the car or at church, I felt favoured and blessed,” she wrote in her memoirs.

The Duchess also revealed that even through the chaos of the past six months in 1992, the Queen remained a constant presence in her life.

“She still took my calls, and I still brought her grandchildren to Windsor for tea on Sundays,” Fergie noted.

In 2007, Fergie wrote a piece for Harper's Bazaar about her relationships with Diana and the Queen and elaborated on their relationship at that time in her life.

“The Queen and I always got on well, still do,” she said.

“I uphold everything Her Majesty represents, has given up her life for, it's her duty.

For her country, she's selfless to the grave.”

When asked about the Queen's skills as a mother, Fergie simply wrote, “I believe Her Majesty's done the best job she can.

For me, she's been extraordinary.”

Fergie also recounted a meeting with the Queen at the time of her divorce, where she made it clear that she wanted to salvage their relationship.

“When I met with Her Majesty about it, she asked, ‘What do you require, Sarah?'

and I said, ‘Your friendship,' which I think amazed her because everyone said I would demand a big settlement,” Fergie wrote.

Despite the media frenzy surrounding her divorce, Fergie left her marriage knowing she would have to work.

“I have, when you are lucky enough to be able to talk to Her Majesty, everything's always OK,” she said in a 2016 interview with Channel 10.

With Fergie and Prince Andrew still very close and living together, and their daughter Princess Eugenie's wedding at Windsor Castle in October, it would be safe to say there's still a lot of talking with the Queen to be done.