Sarah Ferguson shares sweet birthday message remembering late Queen – but fans spot awkward blunder
SARAH Ferguson today shared a sweet birthday message for the late Queen, thanking her for being a “dear friend”.
The Duchess of York, 64, shared a snap of Her Majesty beaming, saying the royal was sorely missed.
But, eagle-eyed fans spotted an awkward blunder in the Instagram post.
Fergie, who was diagnosed with cancer recently, wrote: “Today we are remembering Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on what would have been her 97th birthday.
“Thank you for all that you have taught us, for being a steadfast leader and dear friend. You are sorely missed.”
Royal fans were quick to point out her minor mistake.
Her Majesty was born today in 1926 – which would make her 98 today.
She died “peacefully” on September 8, 2022, aged 96.
Fans who spotted Fergie’s error gently let her know on social media.
One wrote: “Eh, 98 would have been.”
Another said: “Your Highness it would have been her 98th birthday day.”
One other said: “1926 to 2024 should be 98.”
Fergie and the late Queen were thought to have had a secret chat in years gone by.
The royal remains “loyal” to ex-husband Prince Andrew, despite their diverse decades ago.
Royal biographer Ingrid Seward spoke to royal editor Matt Wilkinson on The Sun’s new show, Royal Exclusive, this week.
She said: “Sarah must have talked to the Queen and she must have said ‘please look after Andrew for me’ .
“And that’s what she is going to do. I don’t think she will leave him and I don’t think they’ll get married again.”
Fergie and Prince Andrew are still living under the same roof in separate wings of the Royal Lodge in Windsor despite their divorce decades ago.
Decades after the split, there appear to be no hard feelings as Fergie moved back in with him and their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, in 2008.
Ms Seward said Fergie has remained loyal to her ex-husband despite his alleged links to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Sarah and Andrew's relationship
PRINCE Andrew and Sarah Ferguson tied the knot in 1986 and were dubbed the Duke and Duchess of York - titles they still hold today.
- They were introduced by Princess Diana and became engaged on Andrew’s 26th birthday in 1986.
- Andrew and Sarah were married in Westminster Abbey on July 23, 1986.
- The couple had their first child, daughter Beatrice in 1988.
- Second daughter Eugenie Victoria Helena followed on March 23, 1990.
- But in 1996, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson divorced after 10 years of marriage.
- While the exact reason behind the break-up remains unknown, they announced their “amicable split” in 1992.
- Fergie moved back in with Andrew and their daughters in 2008.
She said: “Sarah is extremely loyal to Andrew.
“I do think she found, especially in the early years of her marriage, this arrogance that he has – a ‘don’t you know who I am’ entitlement.
“She loved him but I think she found that side of him difficult. But she has remained very loyal.”
After her divorce from Andrew, she managed to retain her Duchess of York title, but became persona non grata with the senior royals.
Although fans have been hopeful about a reunion, Ms Seward said the former couple will not get remarried any soon.
She explained: “I can’t see the point of them remarrying unless it is for tax reasons. Maybe their daughters would like them to remarry.
“I think Fergie is better off being her own person. She is still Sarah Duchess of York.
“I don’t think there is anything that would make the life better for either of them if they got remarried.”
Fergie previously told an Australian radio show they “never really left each other” and said they are the “happiest divorced couple in the world”.
And she even hinted at the idea of remarrying Andrew in several interviews, at one point saying: “He’s still my handsome prince, he’ll always be my handsome prince.”