After being photographed having her toes sucked by her American "financial advisor", Fergie was given the boot by the royal family. Photo / Getty Images
After being photographed having her toes sucked by her American "financial advisor", Fergie was given the boot by the royal family. Photo / Getty Images
From her gushing tweets to her self-styled "M.O.B" moniker, it is fair to say the Duchess of York has been relishing every second of being a mother of the royal bride, and who can really blame her?
Cast as a royal outsider ever since she was photographed having her toes sucked by her American "financial advisor" John Bryan, Sarah Ferguson has had to move heaven and earth to be accepted back into the Windsor fold.
The question of how to solve a problem like the Duchess of York has long haunted the monarchy, but Princess Eugenie's imminent wedding to Jack Brooksbank appears to have partially healed the rift between Prince Andrew's ex and her in-laws (well, most of them).
For despite somewhat cringeworthy recent behaviour like selling juicers on QVC, the woman once unfairly dubbed the "Duchess of Pork" by the tabloids appears to be experiencing something of a royal renaissance.
With just 13 days to go until her youngest daughter marries her 32-year-old fiance at Windsor Castle, it is Fergie rather than the royal household who has taken the reins of the wedding planning.
Princess Eugenie's wedding on October 12 has seen Fergie relish the role of royal mother of the bride. Photo / Getty Images
While the public may have criticised plans for a carriage procession followed by not one by two wedding receptions, the 92-year-old monarch has made it clear to courtiers that as her beloved granddaughter's mother, the Duchess's orders are to be respected.
The more cynical Duke of Edinburgh may remain unconvinced but the Queen has always had a soft spot for her former daughter-in-law, once declaring to friends: "Whatever she's done she's a good mother."
Those predicting that Sarah will have to be seated far away from the royals in St George's Chapel appear wide of the mark. It had even been suggested that she might have to occupy the rather lonely spot on the other side of the nave where Doria Ragland sat for her daughter Meghan Markle's May wedding to Prince Harry - but no, say royal insiders.
Fergie and Diana were close when the pair were married to Princes Andrew and Charles. Photo / Getty Images
As mother of the royal bride, Fergie is not only expected to be seated alongside the Duke of York and Princess Beatrice, but also to be treated as "part of the family" at the champagne reception the Queen is hosting afterwards at St George's Hall, and the following black tie reception at Royal Lodge, the Windsor home Sarah still shares with Andrew despite the pair divorcing in 1996.
All the finer details were discussed at the highest levels at Balmoral over the summer, where the Telegraph can reveal the Duchess spent her third year in a row holidaying with the Queen.
Sarah accompanied Andrew, their daughters and Jack to the Scottish castle where HM was guest of honour at Princess Beatrice's 30th birthday party in August. Around 20 other guests feasted on Scottish salmon and a chocolate birthday cake made by royal chefs, washed down by champagne and fine wines.
"The Queen thinks Sarah has raised two lovely daughters and is very fond of both of them and looking forward to Eugenie's wedding, which they obviously chatted about at the party", a source told the Telegraph.
"The Queen always tries to see the best in people and she has stayed in close touch, even having tea with her regularly at Windsor."
The woman once unfairly dubbed the 'Duchess of Pork' by the tabloids appears to be experiencing something of a royal renaissance
It is a very different picture from the one painted in the 1990's, when there was significant tension between the Royal Household and Sarah who was at the heart of a number of scandals.
It was at Balmoral when Sarah had her most embarrassing moment in 1992, coming down to breakfast to see the toe-sucking photographs splashed across the front pages.
It appears the Queen has forgiven Fergie for losing her footing back in the early 90s. Photo / Getty Images
It is thought despite any bad feeling that has occurred, Philip, who is now 97 and retired from public life, will attend Eugenie's wedding, as he did Harry and Meghan's.
But although Fergie was invited to their wedding and the main reception, she was left off the guest list for the smaller evening reception at Frogmore House hosted by Prince Charles.
