New Book Reveals Princess Diana Never Forgave Sarah Ferguson for One Betrayal Involving Harry & William
Both Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson famously referred to themselves as 'Terrible Twins' before their falling out
Before their friendship hit a breaking point, Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson shared a close bond within the palace walls. While the rest of the world knew them as sisters-in-law, they were also lifelong acquaintances who bonded over remarkably similar experiences. Be it growing up with aristocratic backgrounds or navigating the pressures of royal life when all eyes were on them, they famously referred to themselves as the "Terrible Twins" and the "Wicked Wives of Windsor." Hence, it made the eventual collapse of their relationship even more alarming.
As he spoke to Fox News, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams revealed that the turning point came with the publication of her 1996 memoir My Story. According to Fitzwilliams, Princess Diana became convinced that the Duchess of York was "selling stories" to the press, and she was particularly deeply hurt by references made to young Prince William and Prince Harry in the book. Despite Ferguson’s repeated apologies following the publication, Diana refused to reconcile. As Fitzwilliams noted, “If [Diana] had wanted to renew their friendship, she would have,” underscoring that the damage to their bond was ultimately irreversible.
Fitzwilliam’s remarks go hand in hand with details revealed by royal author Andrew Lownie in his recent updated book, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York. Lownie wrote that the two women, who were quite inseparable once, had not spoken for months before Diana’s tragic passing. He elaborated, “The two women, once close, had not spoken for months after Sarah had written about her sister-in-law against Diana's wishes in her memoir and made a joke about catching a verruca (wart) from one of Diana's shoes.” To highlight the tragedy of the rift, Lownie underscores just how deep their roots ran. As fourth cousins, they had been confidantes since their teenage years, bonding over their family parallels—including the fact that both of their mothers had lost custody of them during bitter childhood divorces.
Royal expert Helena Chard also shared her two cents regarding the fallout. Speaking to Fox News, she argued that Ferguson’s memoir became “the final straw” for Diana. After all, it had exposed private tensions to the public. Chard remarked, “It was the final straw, and alarm bells rang as Diana read conversations referring to her sons.” She added that Diana felt Ferguson was “leaking personal information and trading on their conversations.” As the expert explained the Princess’s reaction, she noted, “Diana's privacy was her safety. She was fastidious about controlling her narrative. She used private information strategically.” According to Chard, the pair never made amends for their friendship before Diana’s tragic death in 1997.
Despite how their bond ended, Ferguson continued to speak highly of Diana. In an interview with People, she called their relationship one of “saint and the sinner.” She even recalled one of the pieces of advice the Princess gave her, “Fergie, remember one thing: When you're at the top of the pedestal, it's so easy to fall off. And you're at the bottom. You just climb up.”
