Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, was reportedly left furious after Meghan Markle allegedly "stole her daughter's wedding day thunder" by announcing her pregnancy at Princess Eugenie's nuptials to Jack Brooksbank in October 2018. The incident has been cited as a source of tension in the up-and-down relationship between the Duchess of Sussex and the Duchess of York since they first met in October 2016.
According to royal reporters Dylan Howard and Andy Tillett, authors of the book "Royals at War," Meghan and Harry's announcement left Fergie seething. "Meghan put her foot in it when she decided that it would be the ideal moment to announce that she and Harry were expecting their first child," they wrote. "This was a huge social gaffe, even if you were not a royal - stealing the limelight from Eugenie, who was furious, as was her mother, Sarah."
The revelation of the baby news at the wedding has been described as a moment when the Sussexes "stole Princess Eugenie's thunder," overshadowing her big day. The incident has contributed to the rocky relationship between Meghan and Fergie, despite their initial meeting during cozy drinks at the Royal Lodge in 2016, arranged by Prince Harry, who wanted Fergie to be the first royal to meet his then-girlfriend.
Despite having attended weddings and funerals together since their first meeting, Sarah Ferguson recently claimed that she "doesn't really know" the former Suits star. In March 2023, Fergie candidly told The Telegraph, "I don't really know Meghan. I haven't really met her."
However, this statement appears to contradict Meghan's own account of her interactions with the Duchess of York. During her bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, Meghan fondly recalled how Fergie had hurriedly taught her the proper way to curtsy right before meeting Queen Elizabeth II for the first time.
Meghan shared the whirlwind moment, saying, "We were in the car and we were going to the Royal Lodge for lunch, and he [Harry] was like, 'Oh, my grandmother is here, she's gonna be there after church.'" She continued, revealing the impromptu lesson: "Right in front of the house we practiced and ran in. Fergie ran out and said, 'Do you know how to curtsy?'"
The Duchess of Sussex admitted to performing a particularly deep curtsy, though she doesn't recall the exact moment, and then they went on to have a pleasant chat with the Queen.
The apparent discrepancy between Fergie's recent claim of not knowing Meghan and the Duchess of Sussex's own account of their interactions has raised questions about the true nature of their relationship and the impact of the controversial wedding moment on their bond.
Meanwhile, Sarah Ferguson has been sharing insights into royal life, most recently during an appearance at the Cannes Film Festival. The Duchess of York touched upon the topic of the royal family dynamics, highlighting "forgiveness" as a key element in keeping family ties strong amidst any tensions.
As the royal rift continues to make headlines, the relationship between Sarah Ferguson and Meghan Markle remains a subject of interest and speculation. The alleged overshadowing of Princess Eugenie's wedding day by the Sussexes' baby announcement appears to have had a lasting impact on the dynamics between the two duchesses, despite their previous interactions and shared experiences within the royal fold.
