Sarah Ferguson Skips Ex-Partner’s Funeral—Leaving Princess Beatrice to Fill the Gap
Princess Beatrice made elaborate preparations to avoid unwanted attention and marked her entry to Paddy McNally's funeral via a private road.
The York family has been staying away from the spotlight ever since senior members Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson got their names embroiled in the controversial Jeffrey Epstein scandal. While Andrew lost his patronages and official roles, their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, continue to maintain a guarded distance from royal family events. As a result, public sightings of either princess are rare; however, Beatrice was recently captured fulfilling a poignant obligation on behalf of her mother. She was photographed paying respects to Fergie's ex-boyfriend, Paddy McNally, attending an intimate countryside funeral organized by the F1 mogul's family.
The millionaire former racer dated Ferguson in the 1980s, earning her affection and the tongue-in-cheek nickname "the Toad." They maintained a close friendship, with McNally providing financial support and offering her a place to stay in his ski chalet in Verbier when the former Duchess wanted to lie low during her ex-royal husband's ongoing legal controversies. McNally passed away at 88 last month, on his estate in Sevenhampton, Wiltshire, sparking rumors about Fergie possibly inheriting a portion of his $812.99 million (£600 million) estate, The Sun reported.
However, Fergie skipped the funeral, indicating that the Duchess is still intimidated about facing the media after Epstein revelations that rocked her private life. Sources stated that Princess Beatrice, too, made elaborate preparations to avoid unwanted attention and marked her entry via a private road from McNally’s adjoining estate. "This is a private family funeral," McNally's personal assistant highlighted.
The personal assistant further mentioned that a larger memorial service is scheduled for later this year in London’s Berkeley Square and that Fergie and several other celebrities are expected to attend. An intimate farewell was held yesterday at St James’ Church, set in a picturesque location with North Devon cattle present. Attendees included staff from his Warneford Place estate, which spans 1,000 acres, and a Gaelic blessing was offered in recognition of his Irish heritage.
Meanwhile, questions remain regarding Ferguson’s financial future following her distance from the royal family, with sources noting that McNally was a steadfast pillar throughout her life. "Paddy always looked after Sarah, and at times over the past four decades she needed a lot of looking after. He never abandoned her in life and even in his final days allowed her safe sanctuary at his home in Verbier," a source told The Sun, indicating that the tycoon might have made some financial arrangements for his ex.
Fergie fled the UK in February after closing six of her companies and was later located by the publication at a $2,711 (£2,000-a-night) resort in Austria. She departed the MayrLife Clinic just before exceeding the 90-day EU stay limit, seeking refuge with her former lover, McNally, who had been battling a long illness in his final months.
