Amid the alleged Chinese spy scandal linked to Prince Andrew, Sarah Ferguson is said to have influenced her ex-husband’s decision not to attend the royal family’s Christmas celebrations at Sandringham.
“Sarah the Duchess of York literally saved Christmas for the Royal Family,” Rebecca English said in Mail+’s Palace Confidential.
Sitting next to Journal editor Richard Eden and Mail on Sunday’s Charlotte Griffiths, Rebecca described how ‘if his ex-wife hadn’t had a quiet word in his ear’, the exact situation for this year’s festivities would have been, and Andrew might still not. are known.
The Prince voluntarily agreed to pull out of the festivities with Fergie, MailOnline revealed earlier this week. The Duchess took part in the family’s festivities last year for the first time since 1992.
It came after it emerged that an alleged Chinese spy, Yang Tengbo, had become a ‘close’ confidant of the Duke of York and has since been banned from entering Britain following an MI5 investigation.
Mr Tengbo has denied being a spy or doing anything illegal. He challenged his ban at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) in July, but lost his appeal last week.
A statement from Prince Andrew’s office said: ‘The Duke of York followed the advice of His Majesty’s Government and ended all contact with the individual after concerns were raised.
‘The Duke met the individual through official channels and nothing of a sensitive nature was ever discussed. He cannot comment further on matters relating to national security.”
Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew attended Royal Ascot together in 2019
The Duke of York at St George’s Chapel at Easter earlier this year
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Recently, the Daily Mail revealed that King Charles did not want to ban his brother and had hoped that Andrew would ‘do the decent thing’ and choose not to join the family at Sandringham, including the traditional church service and walkabout on Christmas Day.
Rebecca talked about how ‘instrumental’ Fergie had been in her ex-husband’s situation.
“I am told from sources on both sides of the fence that she has played an important role in being just a small, still voice of calm in her dealings with her ex-husband, and I am told that the King understands that a very delicate situation,” she said.
The Royal Editor added: ‘She has been very loyal to Andrew over the years, despite all his difficulties, but to be fair to her, she has also been respectful to the King and Queen and the late Queen Elizabeth.’
Fergie still lives with her ex-husband at Royal Lodge, despite being divorced since 1996.
Rebecca said: ‘I think they really appreciate and are grateful that she said to Andrew, “Look, why don’t we just take a step back this year and see where the future lies.”
The couple’s daughters, Princess Beatrice, 36, and Princess Eugenie, 34, had already decided to spend the day with their in-laws instead of the Royals, as they haven’t done so in a few years.
“It sounds like they’re going to spend Christmas alone together, just like the couple they used to be,” Richard added. “So maybe it’s time for them to get married again!”
Fergie attended the Christmas Day walkabout with other royals last year for the first time since 1992
The couple shared a kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on their wedding day in 1986
Sarah and Andrew visited the Isle of Wight together in 1986
Fergie has previously described her and Andrew as the ‘happiest divorced couple in the world’, adding that she ‘hopes’ the prince still ‘loves her’ the way she loves him.
Charlotte reflected on how Fergie said she was ‘kind of still ‘caring for a sad man’, like when she was caring for her father, in an interview with The Sunday times before the recent scandal broke, but was published afterwards.
Fergie added that she won’t abandon her ex-husband and that they both care for each other.
“I thought that was very moving too, because she’s going to spend her Christmas alone without her daughters, alone with Andrew, out of pure loyalty,” Charlotte said.