Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has disclosed the final words spoken to her by the late Queen Elizabeth II. In the latest episode of her podcast, 'Tea Talks with the Duchess and Sarah', released on Wednesday, Ferguson recalled the poignant conversation.
“It’s the last thing that the Queen said to me: ‘Just be yourself, Sarah,’” the duchess said. She added that the Queen became frustrated when she was not being authentic, which she believes led to her past troubles. “But now I am myself, and I’m just so lucky to be able to be myself,” Ferguson remarked.
In a previous interview with 'Good Morning America', Ferguson suggested that the Queen's death had liberated her to speak openly without fear of causing offence. “I’m really, truly authentic Sarah now,” she stated. The duchess has consistently expressed deep admiration for the late monarch, describing her as a “total idol” and praising her ability to put people at ease.
Ferguson also spoke about adopting the Queen's two surviving corgis, Sandy and Muick, calling them “total joys”. She noted, “I always think that when they bark at nothing, and there’s no squirrels in sight, I believe it’s because the Queen is passing by.”
The podcast episode further covered Ferguson's mastectomy following a breast cancer diagnosis in June. She reflected on how the surgery helped free her from self-hatred, partly stemming from years of being compared to Princess Diana. “Does it take that?... Yes, it did in my case,” she said, adding that she had “stopped not liking yourself”.
