Sarah Ferguson joins Prince Andrew to look at floral tributes left outside Windsor Castle

Sarah Ferguson was seen today for the first time since the Queen’s death, when she joined ex-husband Prince Andrew in Windsor.

The Duchess of York was pictured this morning looking at the floral tribute left in memory of the late monarch outside the castle.

The mother of two, known as Fergie, missed the Balmoral walk with her daughters earlier this week and was also unable to attend the funeral procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall on Wednesday.

However, the Duchess is said to have been invited to the funeral on Monday.

She was last seen glued to her phone at the Venice airport on Thursday, ahead of the announcement of the death of her former mother-in-law, whom she called her “greatest mentor.”

Fergie was married to the Queen’s ‘favorite son’ for 10 years before splitting up in 1992 and divorcing in 1996, but she has continued to live with the Duke at their Royal Lodge home in Windsor.

She previously described them as ‘the happiest divorced couple in the world’, living under the same roof, but with their own room. “We support each other as pillars of strengths,” she added.

The 62-year-old recently vowed to stand by the prince after he withdrew from his royal duties on the frontline and was stripped of his military titles and protection in the wake of the Jeffrey Epstein sex scandal, describing him as “a very good and kind man’. Man’.

The mother of two, who shares her two daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie with Andrew, has sparked a series of royal scandals over the years.

She famously got into a falling out with the Duke of Edinburgh after she was photographed having her toes sucked by her financial adviser in the south of France, five months after she split from Andrew.

Philip had described the Duchess as “strange” and “pointless”, and would even ask her to leave Balmoral, the royal estate in Scotland, on vacations before he arrived.

The Duchess was reportedly a “pocket full of nerves” when meeting Philip. Despite their much-publicized feud, the bride’s mother had to stand behind her former father-in-law’s left shoulder for photos in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle.

She did not attend Prince Philip’s funeral during the Covid-19 pandemic, nor did she join her family at the memorial service earlier this year.

While more than 1,500 guests gathered at Westminster Abbey to commemorate the Duke of Edinburgh, including members of the Queen’s extended royal family, one notable absentee was the Duchess.

Despite tensions with Prince Philip, Fergie was known to be significantly closer to the Queen, and she is believed to have been a shoulder of support following the Duke’s death at the age of 99 last April.

Since then, she’s been allowed to get back into the fold somewhat – visiting the Queen’s Scotland retreat Balmoral with her ex-husband last August.

The Duchess had been invited to Deeside Castle in previous years, but had only stayed a few days until the Duke of Edinburgh joined the Queen.

Royal guards believed that the Queen, who had a soft spot for her former daughter-in-law, was more receptive to the idea of ​​Sarah returning to a more prominent role within the firm after the Duke’s death.

Fergie recently vowed to stand by her ex-husband after he was stripped of his military functions and protection, describing him as “very good and kind.”

She made the comments during an interview with Iain Dale on LBC after Andrew’s settlement with Virginia Giuffre over sexual assault earlier this year.

When discussing her first historical novel, Her Heart for a Compass, she added that she was grateful that their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, “have him.”

Asked about maintaining a good relationship with Andrew after their divorce, Ferguson replied: ‘He is a very good and kind man. He really understands the art of communication with me and trust.

“We really communicate, compromised with compassion. I will assist him. It’s an incredible friendship and not just co-parenting, it’s just real.

‘Thank God the girls have that’ [him]. He’s very navy and ‘that’s how it’s done’ and a very royal life and then they have the river I walk along.’

Fergie also spoke to Times Radio and was asked if she would still choose to marry the Duke if she could turn back time.

She replied, ‘Oh yes, he is a very good and kind man’.

Referring to their wedding day, she added, “And it was an exceptional day, July 23, 1986. And it was just extraordinary.”

Following the news of the Queen’s death, Fergie wrote on social media: “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty The Queen.

She leaves an extraordinary legacy: the most wonderful example of duty and service and fortitude, and a constant presence as our head of state for more than 70 years.

“She has selflessly given her whole life to the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

“To me, she was the most incredible mother-in-law and friend. I will always be grateful to her for the generosity she showed me by staying close to me even after my divorce. I will miss her more than words can express.’

Tonight Andrew will be given special dispensation to wear his military colors when the Queen’s four children will hold another vigil.

He will stand guard alongside King Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Edward, also at Edinburgh’s St Giles’ Cathedral earlier this week.

An exception was made for the Duke of York to wear a uniform for the wake at Westminster Hall as a ‘last mark of respect’ for his mother.

He is expected to wear the full military uniform of a Vice Admiral of the Navy – the only military rank he still holds.

The senior royals are expected to repeat the ceremonial act they performed in Edinburgh, where they ‘keep watch’ over their late mother’s coffin for 10 minutes.

Each stood on one of the four corners of the oak coffin with their heads bowed as part of the royal procession known as the ‘Vigil of the Princes’. It was the first time the tradition has taken place since 2002.

There have been two such ceremonies in the past: in 1936, with the death of King George V in 1936, and in 2002, at the funeral of the Queen Mother.

That wake was attended by the four grandsons of the royal family: King Charles, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and the Earl of Snowdon.