When Princess Eugenie marries Jack Brooksbank at Windsor Castle on Friday, her parents, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, will be watching as proud parents. But for many, their presence may recall a scandal that rocked the monarchy.
The Duke and Duchess of York married in 1986, but separated just six years later in March 1992. Five months after, compromising photographs of Ferguson with her 'financial advisor', John Bryan, were published in the Daily Mirror. The images, taken with a telephoto lens at a holiday villa in St Tropez, showed Bryan kissing and sucking her toes and foot.
On the morning of publication, Ferguson was staying at Balmoral with the royal family. Royal writer Richard Kay claimed he received a message from Princess Diana the night before, then a call from Bryan asking for an early copy of the Mirror. Kay obliged, witnessing a call from a concerned Ferguson. Bryan assured her everything would be fine, but Kay noted his disbelief.
Ferguson hastily left Balmoral with her children and nanny, driving to Aberdeen airport. Upon arriving at her Surrey home, she faced further embarrassment as no one was there to open the gates, forcing her to wait while a detective unlocked them.
The couple officially divorced in May 1996. Ferguson retained her title 'Duchess of York' but ceased being a Royal Highness. She later claimed the marriage suffered due to Prince Andrew's prolonged absences, saying: 'What I got was not the man, I got the palace and didn't get him.'
