Sarah Ferguson joins Prince Andrew to look at flower tributes left outside Windsor Castle

Sarah Ferguson was seen for the first time since the Queen’s death today as she joined ex-husband Prince Andrew in Windsor.

The Duchess of York was photographed outside the palace this morning with floral tributes left in memory of the late monarch.

The mother-of-two, known as Fergie, missed the walking tour at Balmoral with her daughters earlier this week, nor did she attend the funeral procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall on Wednesday.

However, the Duchess is said to have been invited to the funeral on Monday.

She was last seen taped to her phone at Venice airport on Thursday, ahead of the announcement of the death of her former mother-in-law, who she called her “greatest mentor”.

Fergie was married to the Queen’s “favourite son” for 10 years before they separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996, but continues to live with the Duke at their home, the Royal Lodge in Windsor.

She previously described them as “the happiest divorced couple in the world” living under the same roof but with their own rooms. “We support each other like pillars of strength,” she added.

The 62-year-old recently vowed to stand by the prince after he stepped down from his frontline royal duties and was stripped of his military titles and patronage in the wake of the Jeffrey Epstein sex scandal, describing him as “very good and kind”. . Man’.

Sarah Ferguson was seen for the first time since the Queen’s death today as she joined ex-husband Prince Andrew in Windsor

The Duchess of York was photographed outside the palace this morning with floral tributes left in memory of the late monarch

Sarah Ferguson was seen for the first time since the Queen’s death today as she joined ex-husband Prince Andrew in Windsor

The mother of two, who shares her two daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie with Andrew, has sparked a string of royal scandals over the years.

She famously feuded with the Duke of Edinburgh after she was photographed with her financial adviser sucking her toes in the south of France five months after splitting from Andrew.

Philip had described the Duchess as “strange” and “pointless” and even asked her to leave Balmoral, the royal estate in Scotland, during the holidays before his arrival.

The Duchess is said to have been a pain in the ass when meeting Philip. Despite their highly publicized feud, the bride’s mother was forced to pose behind her former father-in-law’s left shoulder for photos in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle.

She did not attend Prince Philip’s funeral amid the Covid-19 pandemic, nor did she join her family for the memorial service earlier this year.

While more than 1,500 guests flocked to Westminster Abbey to commemorate the Duke of Edinburgh, including members of the Queen’s extended royal family, one notable absentee was the Duchess.

Despite tensions with Prince Philip, Fergie was known to be significantly closer to the Queen and is believed to have been a supporting shoulder following the Duke’s death aged 99 last April.

She has since been allowed back into the flock a little – in August last year she visited the Queen’s Scottish retreat at Balmoral with her ex-husband.

The Duchess had been invited to Deeside Castle in previous years but only stayed a few days before the Duke of Edinburgh joined the Queen.

Royal observers believed that the Queen, who had a soft spot for her former daughter-in-law, was more receptive to the idea of ​​Sarah returning to a more important role within the firm after the Duke’s death.

Fergie recently vowed to stand by her ex-husband after he was stripped of his military roles and patronage, describing him as “very good and kind”.

She made the comments during an interview Iain Dale on LBC following Andrew’s sexual assault settlement with Virginia Giuffre earlier this year.

Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York look at the floral tributes laid near Windsor Castle following the death of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth

Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York look at the floral tributes laid near Windsor Castle following the death of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth

Referring to her first historical novel, Her Heart For A Compass, she added that she’s grateful that her daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, “have it.”

When asked if he could maintain a good relationship with Andrew after their divorce, Ferguson said, “He’s a very good and kind man. He really understands the art of communicating and trusting with me.

“We really communicate, compromised with compassion. I will stand by him. It’s an incredible friendship and not just co-parenting, it’s just real.

“Thank god the girls have [him]. It’s very naval and ‘that’s how it’s done’ and very regal living and then they have the river that I walk along.”

Fergie also spoke to Times Radio and was asked if she would still choose to marry the Duke if she could turn back time.

She replied effusively, “Oh yes – he is a very good and kind man”.

Referring to their wedding day, she added, “And it was an extraordinary day, July 23, 1986. And it was just extraordinary.”

Following the news of the Queen’s death, Fergie wrote on social media: “I am heartbroken at the death of Her Majesty the Queen.

“She leaves behind an extraordinary legacy: the most fantastic example of duty, service and steadfastness, and a constant, steady presence as our Head of State for more than 70 years.

“She has devoted her whole life selflessly to the people of Britain and the Commonwealth.

“To me, she was the most incredible mother-in-law and friend. I will always be grateful to her for the generosity she has shown me by staying close to me even after my divorce. I will miss her more than words can express.’

The Duchess of York looked serious as she left Venice on Thursday after a glittering performance at the film festival

And the Duchess was one of the first to pay a public tribute to her former mother-in-law, the Queen, following her death at the age of 96

This evening, Andrew is due to receive special permission to wear his military colors when the Queen’s four children will hold another vigil.

He will stand guard alongside King Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Edward, having also done so at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh earlier this week.

The exception was made for the Duke of York to wear a uniform for the vigil at Westminster Hall as a “last token of respect” for his mother.

He is expected to wear the full military uniform of a Vice Admiral in the Navy – the only military rank he still holds.

The senior royals are expected to repeat the ceremonial act they performed in Edinburgh, where they “guarded” their late mother’s coffin for ten minutes.

Each stood, head bowed, on one of the four corners of the oaken coffin as part of the royal entourage known as the “Prince’s Vigil”. It was the first time since 2002 that the tradition has taken place.

There have been two such ceremonies in the past: in 1936 at the death of King George V in 1936 and in 2002 during the Queen Mother’s funeral.

The vigil was attended by the king’s four grandsons – King Charles, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and the Earl of Snowdon.