Royal fans around the world celebrated when Prince William and Princess Kate married in a lavish ceremony in April 2011.
But there was one former member of the Royal Family not invited to Westminster Abbey who expressed regret at the time, with footage of the admission recently resurfacing.
Sarah Ferguson revealed ahead of William and Kate’s nuptials how the future queen reminded her of herself when she married Prince Andrew at Westminster Abbey on July 23, 1986.
In an interview on US TV show, The Daily, the Duchess of York said: “I was that bride and at 25-years-old I went down the aisle of Westminster Abbey.”
Fergie explained that William and Kate’s big day triggered “great soul searching on regret”.
She added: “If I, being me now, could go back to that young girl when I was 24, I would say to her, ‘You know what? I will stick with you. I will stay with you. I’m with you…. You don’t need to run around trying to get everyone to love you. I love you, i.e. yourself, myself’.”
The Duchess continued: “You’ve got me. Listen to me. I will guide you. Listen to your instincts Sarah and be aware of your behaviour and be aware of how lucky you are.
“You’ve got the world. You’ve got the best-looking prince. You’ve got the world at your feet. Don’t blow it.”
Sarah and Andrew met through Princess Diana, who recommended she be invited to Windsor Castle during Royal Ascot in 1985.
The Yorks met there and romance blossomed, reportedly winning over Andrew’s parents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in part over their shared love of horses and open carriage driving.
Prince Andrew proposed to Sarah on February 19, 1986, which was also his 26th birthday, at Floors Castle, Scotland.
The late Queen conferred the title of Duke and Duchess of York on the couple on their wedding day, where guests included former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and former First Lady of the United States, Nancy Reagan.
Andrew and Sarah went on to have two daughters, Princess Beatrice, who was born in 1988, and Princess Eugenie, in 1990.
The Duke of York’s demanding naval career meant the couple were often apart, including during Sarah’s first pregnancy.
Sarah and Andrew separated in 1992, with scandal following in August of the same year when she was pictured in a compromising position with US businessman, John Bryan.
After the scandal, Sarah was estranged from the Royal Family. The Yorks divorced in 1996, but bridges have been mended with Andrew and the Windsors since.
Prince William’s aunt reportedly now lives with her former husband at Royal Lodge, Windsor. In 2013, she said Andrew was still her “handsome prince” and always would be.
Fergie has also been welcomed back into the Royal Family, joining the Windsors on the Sandringham estate last year for their annual Christmas Day visit to church.
