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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Ayan Omar

Sarah, Duchess of York 'grateful' for royal invite to Sandringham on Christmas Day

Sarah Ferguson said she was "grateful" after she was welcomed back to the Royal family’s annual Christmas service walk for the first time in 32 years. 

The Duchess of York, 64, was spotted greeting people outside the St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate on Christmas Day. 

She has not been seen at Sandringham with the royals since her split from the Duke of York in 1992, after photos of her with her financial advisor John Bryan were leaked. 

Ferguson and Prince Andrew announced their separation and divorced in 1996. The couple remain friends and live together at the Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Ferguson shared a photo of herself with her daughters, wishing everyone a happy Christmas.

She wrote: "We are enjoying each other’s company and feeling grateful today. I hope everyone has a wonderful day. Happy Christmas to anyone who celebrates and season’s greetings to all!"

At Sandringham, Ferguson was pictured alongside Andrew and her daughters Princess Eugenie and Beatrice, who attended with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. 

Prince Andrew (L), Sarah Fergusen (2L) Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi (2R) and Princess Beatrice (AFP via Getty Images)

Andrew was invited back to Sandringham last year after the Queen’s death. He was forced to step down from his royal duties in 2020 after his controversial friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein came under scrutiny. 

Earlier this month, Ferguson said in an interview with Lorraine Kelly that Christmas is about "no judgment of race, creed or colour, just love".

When asked if the Royal family would unite during the festive season she said: "I feel strongly the greatest gift you can give today is understanding, no judgment, no race, creed, colour or any other domination, just love. There’s no better gift than love."

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