The Duchess of York has candidly spoken about her fond affection for the late Queen, as she described her as "more of a mother to me than my own".
Sarah Ferguson, the ex-wife of Prince Andrew, has opened up about her family and her admiration for the longest-reigning monarch in British history, as the build-up continues toward King Charles' Coronation next month.
She recently admitted she has not been invited to the ceremony on May 6 on Good Morning Britain, despite still living with her ex-husband - Charles' younger brother Andrew - and looking after the Queen's corgis in Windsor.
Sarah stressed the family unit was a huge factor for her after growing up without a mother from the age of 12.
And she lavished praise on the Queen for being the mother figure in her life when she was a working royal during her 10-year marriage with Andrew, between 1986 and 1996.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Sarah said: "One of the best jobs I've ever done, though, is being a mother. I'm very present.
"When my children were little I spent time with them, focusing on them and listening to them. I would help them understand and label their feelings.
"One reason I'm a good mother is because my mother wasn't present at all — she left me when I was 12 [to move to South America], so I know what it's like to be brought up without a mother.
"That's why the Queen was so amazing, because she was more of a mother to me than my own."
She added that she is in "awe" of her children, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, who she describes as becoming "wonderful mothers" to Sienna and August, respectively.
Sarah also said that her two grandchildren were "like having my babies back again" due to their similarities to their Princess mothers.
The Duchess of York, who has written over 50 books, opened up about the life lesson she has learned from her time as part of the royal family and as an author.
She said: "You can do a lot when love comes into it. If you're going to do something, do it with passion.
"I believe that very strongly and it's something I bring into my work, too. I passionately love being an author."
