Sarah Ferguson breaks her silence after being snubbed for a coronation invite by King Charles

Release time：2024-05-21 12:28:56 Source：Cultural Compass news portal

Sarah Ferguson has broken her silence after she was snubbed by King Charles for a Coronation invitation.

It was reported last week that the Duchess of York is not expected to attend the event next month – despite the fact Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are set to be there.

Experts claimed King Charles decided to not invite Sarah to the historic event because she is an 'embarrassment' and no longer a member of the Royal Family.

And while she has yet to comment on the news, yesterday she tweeted in support of a friend's charity expedition up Everest. 

She posted: 'This is my friend John Chart’s last trek. John, who suffers from #MotorNeuroneDisease, climbs Everest to raise awareness about MND and how more research is needed. 

Sarah Ferguson has broken her silence after she was snubbed by King Charles for a Coronation invitation

It was reported last week that the Duchess of York is not expected to attend the Coronation next month – despite the fact Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are set to be there

'Support John by donating to help find a cure and share.' 

In a follow up tweet, she shared a photograph of John carrying a doll of Little Red, a character from one of her children's books. 

She wrote: 'Little Red and team are by his side every step of this challenging journey. #MND #Awareness.'

Yesterday, she was seen for the first time since news broke she wouldn't be attending the Coronation. 

She cut a solemn figure as she was spotted leaving the Royal Lodge in Windsor following the snub.

The 63-year-old Duchess of York was seen in the passenger seat of a Range Rover driven by her ex-husband Prince Andrew.

The mother-of-two was dressed casually in a tan blazer, shirt and black circular glasses. 

Meanwhile, Prince Andrew, 63, was sporting a navy jumper over a red shirt as he drove the 4x4 out of the complex. 

Royal commentator Tom Bower previously told MailOnline that Sarah had excluded herself because of her previous 'conduct'.

He added that her presence would 'provoke critical comment which Charles doesn't need'. 

And expert Richard Fitzwilliams praised the 'extremely wise' decision from the King because she has been an 'embarrassment to the Royal Family for many years'.

Sarah shared a tweet online in support of a friend's charity trek climbing Everest over the weekend 

Meanwhile the duchess also shared a snap of her friend walking in the mountains and carrying a Little Red doll, which is a character from one of her children's books 

But the apparent decision has surprised some royal watchers – with Meghan's friend Omid Scobie tweeting: 'If true, this feels kinda cruel, no?' 

Speaking about the absence of Sarah, Mr Bower said she will be left out 'because she is not a member of the Royal Family'. 

He added that she had excluded herself 'by her past conduct', saying: 'Her presence would provoke critical comment which Charles doesn't need.'

Among Sarah's most embarrassing moments was when photographs were published showing her having her toes sucked by her financial adviser John Bryan at her holiday villa in St Tropez, while they were also seen kissing, embracing and frolicking in the pool.

She was also said to have had a rift with her once good friend, Princess Diana, after she claimed she got a verruca after borrowing a pair of her shoes. They were reportedly still not speaking at the time of Diana's death in 1997. 

And in 2010 she apologised after being secretly recorded offering to sell access to Andrew in return for £500,000. 

Mr Fitzwilliams told MailOnline: 'The decision not to invite Sarah Ferguson is extremely wise and to be welcomed. She has been an embarrassment to the Royal Family for many years.

'Time and again she gives embarrassing interviews, there seems no end to it.

'There are times when a dignified silence is required which she seems incapable of.'

Sarah did attend the Queen's funeral at Westminster Abbey last September, but was not one of the 30 guests for Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021.

Speaking about the absence of Sarah, royal expert Tom Bower said she will be left out 'because she is not a member of the Royal Family'

Last month Sarah, pictured with Charles, revealed during a chat with Glamour editor Samantha Barry that she had not received an invitation to the Coronation

Sarah, Duchess of York (centre, left) posted a picture in May 2020 of her with Prince Andrew (centre, right) and their daughters Princess Eugenie (far right) and Princess Beatrice (far left)

She was not invited to Prince William and Kate's wedding in 2011, saying she went on holiday to Thailand instead – but did attend Harry and Meghan's marriage at St George's Chapel in Windsor in May 2018.

Speaking about the Coronation, one of Sarah's friends told the Independent: 'She has been hugely supportive of Charles and Camilla and does not want this to become about her.

'The whole day is about the new King and the success of his reign but she has always championed the Royal Family and the Queen undoubtedly would have wanted her to be there.' 

Her lack of invitation comes despite Andrew turning up at the Easter Service at St George's Chapel in Windsor – although her ex-husband is still excluded from most of life within the Royal Family. 

Sarah herself has also had something of a renaissance in recent months, having been invited to join King Charles and other senior royals at Sandringham at Christmas, as well as looking after the late Queen's corgis. 

She was also a favourite of the late Queen and they were known to spend plenty of time together including walks at Windsor Park. 

They knew each other before Sarah's marriage to Andrew because her father Major Ronald Ferguson was the royal polo manager.

Last month Sarah revealed during a chat with Glamour editor Samantha Barry that she had not received an invitation to the coronation – joking that it was 'TBD' whether she would end up going.

'The invitations haven't gone out yet. Have they?' she asked when questioned whether she plans to go.

Sarah also insisted that a lack of invitation did not bother her, saying: 'Well I've decided the best thing about being British around a Coronation – although I've never been to one – I think we should, I should set up a tea room at the bottom of the drive with bunting and cakes.'  

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