Sarah Ferguson's 'Worthless' Feeling After William and Kate's Wedding Snub
Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, has experienced a dramatic fall from grace in recent months, with her association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein leading to the loss of her title and eviction from Royal Lodge. Now in hiding for over five months, her return to royal circles seems improbable, a stark contrast to her attendance at the King's Easter service less than a year ago.
A Painful Exclusion from a Royal Celebration
This is not the first time Ferguson has faced rejection from the royal family. Nearly fifteen years ago, she was brutally snubbed by Prince William and Princess Kate, an exclusion that she later confessed made her feel "totally worthless." The royal couple's wedding at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011, notably lacked an invitation for Sarah, a decision that deeply affected her.
In an interview with Oprah Winfrey shortly after the event, Ferguson expressed her heartache, stating, "I was not invited, and I chose to go and be in Thailand in a place called Camelia and... the jungle embraced me." She elaborated on the emotional turmoil, saying, "It was so difficult. I wanted to be there with my girls, and to be getting them dressed and to go as a family. And also, it was so hard because the last bride up that aisle was me."
Coping with Regret and Public Scrutiny
Ferguson acknowledged that the snub was likely due to her past behaviour, including a scandal where she was caught offering an undercover reporter access to her former husband, Prince Andrew, for £500,000. She reflected, "I went through the phase of feeling so totally worthless and that [it] was quite right they didn't invite me. Why would they - why would they invite me? I felt that I ostracised myself by my behaviour, by the past, by living with all the regrets of my mistakes."
She also drew a poignant comparison to Princess Diana, noting, "I really love the feeling that sort of Diana and I both weren't there. But I'm here to say how proud she would have been and Kate looked utterly beautiful." Despite the hurt, Ferguson found solace in her ex-husband Andrew's support during the wedding day, as he reassured her about their own past nuptials.
Current Exile and Speculation
Ferguson has not been seen publicly since just before the release of files linking her to Jeffrey Epstein, which revealed a longer association than previously admitted. Speculation abounds that she has fled the UK, with reports placing her in the United Arab Emirates and at a Swiss wellness retreat. Recently, according to the Daily Mail, she was spotted at a retreat in Donegal, Ireland, described as a place where she could escape when things become "overwhelming."
A source revealed, "She seems to be very keen indeed to avoid being seen while she works out what to do next." Additionally, she has not been seen at Sandringham since Prince Andrew's move there before his arrest last week, with insiders suggesting she aims to "keep her distance" from her former spouse. This ongoing isolation underscores the lasting impact of royal rejections, both past and present, on her life.
