Sarah Ferguson
Sarah Ferguson arrives to take her seat inside St George's Chapel ahead of the wedding of her daughter Britain's Princess Eugenie of York to Jack Brooksbank at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, on Oct. 12, 2018. Getty Images/Yui Mok

Sarah Ferguson was seen as an attractive prospect for Prince Andrew by Prince Philip before the couple tied the knot. In fact, the royal family’s first impression of Fergie was very much different compared to how their relationship ended.

In the book “Sarah: HRH The Duchess of York,” royal author Ingrid Seward said that the royal family actually liked the mom of two for Prince Andrew because she came from a suitable background.

“She had mixed in the edges of the royal circle all her life and knew the ropes. She was down to earth without any trace of the snobbishness they so disliked, and she was probably the first girl Andrew had been serious about who could be considered remotely suitable… Most importantly the two were deeply in love,” Seward said.

The royal author went on to say that Queen Elizabeth liked Ferguson, and the two royals got along very well. They shared a love for dogs and horses, and they also had a mutual enjoyment of country pursuits. The Queen Mother also liked Ferguson because she was so English.

“The Queen Mother went further and said that any girl of 26 would have had previous boyfriends; it was perfectly natural and she thought Sarah would be ideal for Andrew. It was an important show of support because the nation’s grandmother can be quite cantankerous,” she said.

After dating for just a couple of months, Prince Andrew and Ferguson announced their engagement to the world. In 1986, the couple tied the knot at Westminster Abbey.

Unfortunately, the couple’s relationship didn’t last. During their separation, Ferguson was involved in a toe-sucking scandal with John Bryan. This tainted her relationship with the royal family.

Prince Philip and the Queen froze her out of their circle, but they continued to hang out with Prince Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Eugenie.

In recent years, Ferguson and the Queen have patched things up. But Prince Philip and Fergie are still at odds with each other.

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