Sarah Ferguson stepped out in public for the first time in months on Thursday alongside her daughters, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice. The former Duchess of York, who has kept a low profile since the Epstein files scandal last year, arrived at St Paul's Church in London and did not shy away from the cameras.
A Return to the Spotlight
The duchess, who was last pictured at an Austrian chalet earlier this year, attended a memorial service in Knightsbridge for her ex-boyfriend Paddy McNally. The event came months after McNally's funeral, which Sarah did not attend.
The Duchess seemed slightly nervous as she walked into the event on Thursday, but smiled at the cameras regardless. Her daughters Eugenie and Beatrice, alongside their husbands, were by Sarah's side.
Family Support and Surprise Appearance
Eugenie and Beatrice's appearance with their mother may come as a surprise to many, after reports suggested they were trying to avoid any public appearances that could drag them into controversy surrounding their parents. It is also believed their relationship as sisters has drifted in recent months.
Thursday's outing also comes weeks after it was revealed that the sisters had been making secret visits to their mother's new rental home in the Home Counties. Before this, Sarah had been staying abroad, possibly to avoid the spotlight and UK scrutiny.
Connection to Paddy McNally
The former Duchess was involved with McNally before meeting Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. They met after Fergie was recruited to look after McNally's young sons, Sean and Rollo, following the death of his wife, Anne, in 1980.
Their relationship was believed to have been special to the former duchess, but it did not work out. Despite this, the pair remained friends, as evidenced by McNally allowing Sarah to use his homes in Switzerland and the South of France over the last year so she could keep a low profile. It is believed he also owned the Austrian chalet Sarah was pictured staying at earlier this year. It is not known when Sarah and McNally last spoke.
Other Royals in Attendance
Sarah's daughters were not the only royals to attend Thursday's service. Princess Anne's son, Peter Phillips, was also seen in London at the event. He did not seem to be accompanied by his wife Harriet Sperling.
Sarah's re-emergence into public life comes as King Charles is on a nine-day royal tour in the Caribbean.
