Sarah Ferguson was reportedly "furious" after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their first pregnancy during her daughter Princess Eugenie's wedding in October 2018 - a moment that some royal insiders claim shifted the spotlight away from the bride.
According to The Express, Ferguson was angered by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's timing, which coincided with Princess Eugenie's marriage to Jack Brooksbank at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. In an apparent effort to redirect public attention back to her daughter, Ferguson reportedly shared several photos of the newlyweds on her social media account shortly after the event, a move interpreted by royal commentators as a subtle rebuke of the Sussexes.
Royal biographers Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand also wrote that Princess Eugenie herself "wasn't especially thrilled" about the timing of the announcement, suggesting that it created private tension within the family.
Prince Harry later offered his own version of events in his 2023 memoir Spare. Reflecting on that day, he wrote: "Euge was getting married to Jack and we were deliriously happy for them and for ourselves, selfishly, since Jack was one of our favorite people... Also, the various gatherings connected to the wedding would give us a chance to pull aside family members one by one and tell them our good news." His recollection did not indicate any conflict with his cousin, though contemporaneous reports suggested that the news overshadowed parts of the celebration.
In the years since, speculation about the relationship between the Sussexes and Princess Eugenie has persisted. Earlier this year, broadcaster Piers Morgan claimed that Eugenie had "fallen out" with the couple after she and her sister, Princess Beatrice, were photographed with him - a figure long at odds with Meghan Markle. A source told Closer Online that the encounter "didn't go down well" with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, though neither side has publicly addressed the report.
The resurfacing of the 2018 controversy coincides with renewed scrutiny of Sarah Ferguson and her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, whose ongoing scandals have strained the family's public standing. The former Duke of York has been stripped of royal titles and asked to vacate Royal Lodge following allegations from the late Virginia Giuffre, which he continues to deny. King Charles's decision effectively removed his legal and financial privileges as a working royal.
The fallout has extended to Ferguson herself. The BBC reported that several charities have severed ties with her in recent months, leaving her primarily focused on her own foundation, Sarah's Trust. The Duchess of York, who has published several children's books, plans to release another title later this month. Originally scheduled for October 9, the release was postponed to November 28, according to Page Six.
