A close bond. Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson‘s marriage — and subsequent split — has become a major topic of discussion in British monarchy history through the years.
After meeting as children, the couple reconnected in 1985 and started dating later that year. Andrew’s proposal to Ferguson — a.k.a. Fergie — one year later caused a stir since he allegedly didn’t get permission from Queen Elizabeth II at the time.
“Just before midnight Andrew went down on both knees and asked Sarah Ferguson to be his wife. Sarah was caught off-guard and, to cover her confusion, tried to make light of it,” royal biographer Ingrid Seward claimed in her 1991 book, Sarah: HRH The Duchess of York. “She told the prince: ‘If you wake up tomorrow morning, you can tell me it’s all a huge joke.'”
Seward wrote that the prince proposed for a second time in the morning — and later obtained consent from his mother. Andrew and Ferguson tied the knot five months later and expanded their family following their nuptials.
After six years of marriage, the pair made headlines in 1992 when they decided to separate. (Their divorce was finalized four years later.)
Over the years, Ferguson has been candid about remaining friendly with Andrew for the sake of their children. “A table goes best with four legs. A table can’t stand on three legs, really, so you have the duke and I, and the two girls,” she explained to Hello! in September 2017. “We’re family unit and we lead by example. We support each other emotionally and we support each other health-wise. At least every two weeks, we sit down together and communicate, the four of us.”
Ferguson also stood by Andrew’s side after he was accused of sexual assault by Virginia Roberts Giuffre in November 2019. The lawsuit was settled out of court in 2022, but Andrew was stripped of his military titles after serving more than 20 years in the Royal Navy. He stopped participating in senior royal duties as well.
His ex-wife, for her part, paid tribute to the royal on his birthday amid the controversy. She shared a black-and-white photo of Andrew in February 2020, writing via Instagram, “Happy 60th Birthday to Andrew.”
Scroll down to relive Andrew and Ferguson’s relationship:
Andrew and Ferguson, who knew each other since childhood, became reacquainted in 1985 and got engaged following a whirlwind romance. Terence Donovan/Gene Nokon/AP/Shutterstock
The duo exchanged vows at Westminster Abbey before being bestowed the titles Duke and Duchess of York from the queen. Andrew and Ferguson shared a kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following their nuptials. Shutterstock
After two years of marriage, Ferguson gave birth to their daughter Princess Beatrice. Their first child became Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s fifth grandchild. Peter Kemp/AP/Shutterstock
Andrew and Ferguson welcomed their second daughter, Princess Eugenie, two years later. Nils Jorgensen/Shutterstock
The twosome made headlines after they announced that they were separating following six years of marriage. Shutterstock
Amid their divorce, which was finalized in 1996, the Young Victoria star became estranged from the royal family. David Hartley/Shutterstock
Ferguson later reflected on her bond with Andrew, telling the Daily Mail in November 2018, "Although we are not a couple, we really believe in each other. The Yorks are a united family. We’ve shown it. You saw it at the wedding. My duty is to him. I am so proud of him. I stand by him and always will. The way we are is our fairytale." She added: "So many people have asked me [if we’ll get back together], but we’re so happy with the way we are right now. We enjoy each other’s company; we allow each other to blossom. I know it sounds like a fairytale but that’s the way we are." Shutterstock
The exes publicly reunited shortly after Andrew stepped down from his royal duties in November 2019. In an Instagram post uploaded by Ferguson's assistant, the pair were focused on making care packages for people working on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. Courtesy of Antonia Marshall/Instagram
The A Gift of Kindness author broke her silence on her ex-husband's public scandal. “Whatever challenges he has, I will stand firm to the co-parenters that we are together," she told People. "I believe that he’s a kind, good man, and he’s been a fabulous father to the girls." Shutterstock
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