Sarah Ferguson says she will miss Queen Elizabeth II, her former mother-in-law, “more than words can express”.
The Duchess of York – who was married to the Queen’s son Prince Andrew – posted a statement on Twitter after the news on Thursday about the death of the monarch at the age of 96.
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty the Queen. She leaves an extraordinary legacy: the greatest example of duty, service and fortitude, and a constant, stable presence as our head of state for more than 70 years,” she wrote.
Fergie, as she is affectionately known, also revealed that she felt gratitude towards the Queen, especially after her divorce in 1996.
“She has selflessly given her entire life to the people of the UK and Commonwealth,” she wrote. “To me she was the most incredible mother-in-law and friend. I will always be grateful to her for the generosity she showed me by staying close to me even after my divorce.”
“I will miss her more than words can express,” the Duchess concluded sadly.
Ferguson, 62, married the Queen’s second son in 1986 and they share two children, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. Despite their breakup, the couple remained close and lived at the family’s home, Sunninghill Park in Berkshire, until 2004.
She has also been a staunch defender of her ex-husband, who settled a lawsuit with Virginia Roberts Giuffre after she alleged she was forced to have sex with the Prince when she was 17 years old by the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.
In an interview earlier this year, she described him as “such a nice, wonderful man.”
Ferguson also described the happiest day of her life as her wedding day, “when I married the best man in the world.”