Sarah Ferguson says royals ‘can’t have it both ways’ if they choose to leave

Sarah Ferguson has said royals ‘can’t have it both ways’ if they choose to leave saying they must decide whether they want to be ‘in or out’.

The Duchess of York, 63, spoke candidly in an interview amid speculation whether Prince Harry and Meghan Markle who stepped down as senior members of the royal family, will attend the coronation.  

Speaking to The Independent, she said: ‘Well, you can’t have it both ways. You can’t sit on the fence and keep one foot in and one foot out. You’re either in or out.

‘But then don’t cry about not being invited to weddings. You chose to leave, now go and live it – and be it.’ 

It’s the second time Fergie has appeared to distance herself from Meghan in recent months – having previously said she ‘doesn’t know her.’  

Fergi, who still shares the Royal Lodge in Windsor with her ex-husband Prince Andrew, is currently promoting her new romance novel, A Most Intriguing Lady. 

Despite being divorced, the duchess is allowed to continue styling herself as Sarah, Duchess of York until she marries someone else, at which point she would lose her title. 

Prince Harry and Meghan hit the headlines in January 2020 when they announced they would be stepping down as senior members of the royal family and will no longer receive public funds.

In an announcement at the time they said: ‘We intend to step back as senior members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.’ 

The couple later moved to Montecito, California, with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. 

And it’s not the first time Fergie has appeared to distance herself from Meghan.

The Duchess of York told The Telegraph she ‘doesn’t know’ Meghan, who is currently living in her $14 million California mansion having stepped back from royal duty.

The mother-of-two said: ‘I don’t really know Meghan. I haven’t really met her.’

However the claim comes in direct contradiction of the Sussexes, who have both claimed Fergie has been one of the friendlier members of the royal family – even recalling having drinks with Sarah at her home in The Royal Lodge.

In both the explosive Oprah Winfrey interview and Harry’s book Spare, the Sussexes said it was Sarah who taught Meghan how to curtsey ahead of her first meeting with the late Queen.

Elsewhere, Fergie said she did speak to Meghan at the Queen’s funeral in September, adding: ‘She looked absolutely beautiful. I think she is beautiful.’

In the Oprah interview, which was broadcast in early 2021, the Duchess of Sussex said Fergie was the person who taught her to curtsey.

She claimed when she went to meet the Queen for the first time at The Royal Lodge in Windsor, she ‘didn’t even know how to curtsey’ and was shocked when Harry explained it was expected of her.

The Duchess of York, 63, spoke candidly in an interview amid speculation whether Prince Harry (left) and Meghan Markle (right) who stepped down as senior members of the royal family, will attend the coronation

Meghan said: ‘I went into it naively because I didn’t grow up knowing much about the royal family. I didn’t fully understand what the job was.’

The mother-to-be said that was the moment ‘the penny dropped’ that her perception about the Firm was ‘very different’ to the reality, and she had to learn how to perform the royal custom ‘very quickly’.

She said: ‘I didn’t know I was going to meet her until moments before. We were in the car and we were going to the Royal Lodge for lunch, and he [Harry] was like, “Oh, my grandmother is here, she’s gonna be there after church.”.

‘Right in front of the house we practiced and ran in. Fergie ran out and said, “Do you know how to curtsy?”,’ she recalled.

‘Apparently I did a very deep curtsy, I don’t remember it, and then we sat there and we chatted.

Meanwhile Harry also recounted a similar story in his book Spare, writing that he had actually hoped Fergie would be the first member of the family Meghan would meet as his girlfriend.

He wrote it was October 2016, explaining: ‘First stop, Royal Lodge. To meet Fergie, because Meg already knew Fergie’s daughter Euge, and Jack, so this seemed a logical baby step.’

He added: ‘Fergie came outside, somewhat aflutter, and said: “Do you know how to curtsy?” Meg shook her head. Fergie demonstrated once. Meg imitated her.

‘As we walked towards the door Fergie and I both leaned into Meg, whispering quick reminders. When you first meet the Queen it’s Your Majesty. Thereafter it’s just Ma’am. Rhymes with ham. Just, whatever you do, don’t talk over her, we both said, talking over each other.’

The Sussexes have both claimed Fergie has been one of the friendlier members of the royal family – even recalling having drinks with Sarah at her home in The Royal Lodge

Elsewhere, Fergie said she did speak to Meghan at the Queen’s funeral in September, adding she felt she ‘looked beautiful’ (pictured far left, Meghan, and far right, Sarah)

After Meghan met the Queen, Harry writes that they stayed at Royal Lodge for drinks.

It is unknown on what other occasions the two women might have crossed paths – with Meghan only serving as a working member of the royal family for a few years before moving to the US.

For months, speculation has been rife over whether Harry and Meghan will attend the coronation of King Charles on 6 May, 2023.

Charles ascended to the throne following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September last year, ending Her Majesty’s 70-year reign.

However, the attendance of Harry and Meghan at the ceremony has been the subject of much speculation.

The couple’s need to make money from media deals ‘linked to their royal status’ has reportedly angered the Royal Family.

This comes following the release of Harry’s book Spare and the bombshell Netflix docuseries the royal couple starred in a few months ago.

The release of Spare and the airing of Harry & Meghan have laid bare the grievances the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have with other members of the Royal Family.

In a recent television interview to promote his book, Harry refused to confirm whether he and Meghan would attend the Coronation.

He has since confirmed that the pair have been invited but did not reveal if they will attend.