Sarah Ferguson’s decision to skip the wedding of her beloved “golden niece” has left friends stunned, with royal insiders questioning why the former Duchess of York missed a celebration that should have been a priority for her.
Heidi Luedecke, the daughter of Ms Ferguson’s sister, Jane, married art consultant Ben Collinson in a picturesque ceremony at All Saints Church in Dummer, Hampshire.
The reception was held at Dummer Down Farm, the very property where Ms Ferguson spent much of her childhood.
But despite the strong family connection, the former Duchess of York was nowhere to be seen on the big day.
The absence has sparked speculation, particularly given the former duchess previously expressed great affection for her niece.
When Heidi got engaged in November 2023, Ms Ferguson described her as a “golden niece” and said she was “devoted” to the bride and her future husband.
“She is my golden niece, whom I love so much. I’m devoted to lovely Ben and Heidi,” Ms Ferguson told DailyMail at the time.
According to Mirror, some of Ms Ferguson’s friends were baffled by her decision to stay away and said the move uncalled for.
“Sarah would have been surrounded by love had she turned up,” a family friend told British journalist Richard Eden.
“She could have kept a low profile without too many problems.”
Ms Ferguson’s two daughters, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, were also absent from the celebrations, with the pair instead choosing to attend the wedding of Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling with the King and Queen.
The former Duchess’ no-show comes amid her increasingly low public profile. The 66-year-old has made few appearances in recent months following the release of documents linked to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.
The US Department of Justice documents revealed extensive and previously undisclosed ties between Ms Ferguson, her former husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Mr Epstein.
In a bid to evade the spotlight amid public backlash, Ms Ferguson is believed to be hiding out in a private chalet in the Austrian Alps at the Mayrlife Medical Health Resort.
Ms Ferguson has continued to strongly deny any any wrongdoing in relation to Mr Epstein.
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