Prince Harry wants Fergie at wedding
To Prince Philip and Prince Charles, Sarah Ferguson, the ex-wife of Prince Andrew, is a royal embarrassment, what with her past affairs, her high-profile financial woes, her Weight Watchers endorsement and her tawdry commercial ventures over the years.
But the Duchess of York is well-regarded by her nephew Prince Harry, and he has reportedly insisted that she be included on the guest list for his May 19 wedding to Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle, various outlets are reporting.
“Harry has nailed his colors to the mast on this,” a royal aide has told the Daily Mail. “He wants his aunt there — and she will be.”
Since the death of his mother, Princess Diana, in 1997, Harry has reportedly remained on good terms with Ferguson, who still shares a home with Andrew, despite their 1996 divorce. Harry also is close to her daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, and has vacationed with the York family.
But Buckingham Palace has made it “very clear” that it doesn’t want the Duchess of York to attend the wedding, with palace courtiers regarding Ferguson as an “awkward aunt” problem, the Daily Mail said.
Ferguson wasn’t invited to the 2011 wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton. Ferguson later told Oprah Winfrey that the snub left her feeling “so totally worthless” and ostracized.
The Daily Express said that Harry is especially keen to avoid causing his aunt further pain, and that’s why he has told palace officials that he wants her there.