Princess Beatrice and Sarah Ferguson.Photo: David M. Benett/Getty
Princess Beatricekept momSarah Fergusonon schedule during the royal family’s annual Christmas outing.
Keeping with tradition,King Charles,Queen Camillaand other members of the British royal familystepped out for church on Christmas Day. Many of the regulars at the event were there, includingKate MiddletonandPrince Williamwith their three children,Prince George,Princess CharlotteandPrince Louis. But in a surprise, Fergie (as the Duchess of York is affectionately known)joined her ex-husband,Prince Andrew, and their daughters, Princess Beatrice andPrincess Eugenie, for the church outing.
Although Fergie, 64, would join the royals in the 1980s for Christmas, she has not been seen at the royal family’s Christmas walk to church since the early 1990s, as she and Prince Andrew separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996. However, the former couple haveremained friendly, even continuing to live together at Royal Lodge in Windsor.
Fergie was spotted greeting well-wishers gathered outside following the mass, collecting flowers and wishing everyone a happy Christmas. In avideo shared on X, she is heard telling people, “Gotta go, gotta go!” as she lags behind the rest of the attendees. However, she then makes her way across the path to the other side to greet more people.
Princess Beatrice, 35, then comes into view, seemingly telling her mother that they need to head out, drawing laughs from the crowd. Fergie then joins Beatrice and Beatrice’s husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, to leave.
Prince Andrew, Sarah Ferguson, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Princess Beatrice at Christmas 2023.Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty
Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty
Fergie’s outing at Christmas was a surprise to royal watchers. In addition to not joining the event in decades, it’s not common for divorced spouses to attend the close family event, and even engaged partners were not included until recently.
AfterMeghan MarkleandPrince Harrygot engaged in 2017, shejoined the royal family at Christmasfor the first time (but in 2010, Prince William wasn’t allowed to bring Princess Kate despite their own engagement).
Despite her divorce from Prince Andrew, she remained close to members of the royal family, including her former mother-in-law,Queen Elizabeth.
Sarah Ferguson attends Christmas 2023 with the royal family.Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty
Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty
“She was so brilliant at putting you at ease. She had the most incredible faith of any single person I’ve ever met,” the Duchess of Yorktold PEOPLEearlier this year about Queen Elizabeth. “She just knew what to do. She knew how to make people feel good. She never took it onboard as about her. It’s about the monarchy, about making someone feel good. She was my total idol.”
Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Princess Beatrice on Christmas 2023.Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty
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Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson at Christmas 2023.ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty
ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty
source: people.com
