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Fergie's heartbreak over 'best friend' Princess Diana

Princess Eugenie wed Jack Brooksbank at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle last month, and it brought her mother Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York right back into the spotlight alongside the royal family.

But there was one person who wasn’t there, Fergie’s “best friend” the late Princess Diana.

Fergie missed Diana at Eugenie’s wedding

The Duchess has opened up about how much she missed having Diana at the royal nuptials in October.

Fergie revealed her heartbreak over ‘best friend’ Princess Diana not being at Eugenie’s wedding. Source: Getty
Fergie revealed her heartbreak over ‘best friend’ Princess Diana not being at Eugenie’s wedding. Source: Getty

“I thought of absent friends and family; of Diana — but she’s with me all the time,” she told the Daily Mail.

Despite having a complicated relationship in previous years, the 59-year-old referred to Diana as her “best friend and the funniest person [she] knew”.

“It was a total joy to be with her because we just laughed and enjoyed life so much, and I know she would have loved the wedding,” Fergie added.

Fergie and Diana’s complex friendship

From being distant cousins, to in-laws, to best friends and then rivals; it’s safe to say Diana and Fergie’s relationship is definitely a complex one.

Lady Diana Spencer and Sarah Ferguson – here in 1983 – knew each other from a young age and are actually fourth cousins. Source: Getty
Lady Diana Spencer and Sarah Ferguson – here in 1983 – knew each other from a young age and are actually fourth cousins. Source: Getty

Unknown to many, Diana and Sarah’s relationship began way before their royal lives started. In fact, the two women are actually distant cousins – fourth cousins to be precise. They’re both descendants of William Cavendish, the Fourth Duke of Devonshire.

After they both married into the royal family, the pair relied on each other, but it didn’t take long for a rivalry to emerge between them both.

Their friendship suffered even more after they both left the confines of the royal family.

Charles, Diana, Sarah and Andrew pictured together on a skiing holiday in 1987. Source: Getty
Charles, Diana, Sarah and Andrew pictured together on a skiing holiday in 1987. Source: Getty

While the pair were initially close after their separations – and eventual divorces – from royal brothers Prince Charles and Prince Andrew, by late 1996 the pair had stopped speaking.

Diana’s death

Less than one year later in August 1997, Princess Diana passed a fatal car crash in Paris.

Sarah attended the funeral of Diana in 1997. Source: Getty
Sarah attended the funeral of Diana in 1997. Source: Getty

The Duchess of York attended her funeral, and later admitted her upset about their falling out.

“Because we were like siblings… we rowed,” she told Harper’s Bazaar in 2011. “And the saddest thing, at the end, we hadn’t spoken for a year.”

“I tried, wrote letters, thinking whatever happened didn’t matter, let’s sort it out,” she added. “And I knew she’d come back.

“In fact, the day before she died she rang a friend of mine and said, ‘Where’s that Red? I want to talk to her.'”

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