“Unthinkable”: Sad truth hidden in royal wedding snap
Rewind 20 years ago and it would be unthinkable to imagine the Duchess of York beaming proudly alongside her former father-in-law Prince Philip.
But at Eugenie’s wedding last year to tequila ambassador Jack Brooksbank, that is exactly what happened in the official royal family portrait.
Taking it back to the ‘90s, Fergie was known for being a tabloid favourite, after a series of gaffes and indiscretions.
Finalising her divorce from Prince Andrew in 1996, the mother-of-two was trying to earn some cash by appearing in Weight Watchers ads and selling Wedgewood tea cups with glee abandon.
Even though she still carried her royal title, the lavish lifestyle she was used to living was long gone. No more spending summer with the Queen, who at one point adored her daughter-in-law. And no more carriage driving with Philip, a passion they both shared.
Fergie was persona non grata behind palace gates, resolutely shunned.
But what made the situation even more complicated was that her daughters were not. The Yorks have always remained close, but it was still a family divided.
By the year 2000, Beatrice and Eugenie had reached 12 and 10 years old and started noticing the cold behavior of the royal family towards their mother.
Speaking to George Wayne from Vanity Fair in 2000, the Duchess was asked about the sensitive topic: “Has it reached the point at all where Beatrice will look at you and say, ‘Mummy, why does Grandpa hate you so much?’”
Fergie then responded: “Oh, yes. I don’t know if she’s ever used the word ‘hate’. But I think they both want to know why I am excluded from the royal family and family engagements.”
Now, 20 years later, the smiles are real, but the hurt Fergie and Andrew’s daughters were forced to endure still live on.