Queen 'more of a mother' to former daughter-in-law Sarah Ferguson than her own was

The Queen’s former daughter-in-law Sarah Ferguson has shared a touching new insight into their incredible bond, describing the monarch as “more of a mother” to her than her own. 

• Sarah Ferguson has opened up about her relationship with her former mother-in-law as she revealed Her Majesty is her “greatest mentor”. 
• The Duchess of York’s mother passed away in Argentina after starting a new life there. 
• This royal news comes as Prince William and Kate Middleton's secret babysitter at Balmoral has been revealed. 

The Queen might no longer be Sarah Ferguson’s mother-in-law after her 1996 divorce from Prince Andrew, but it seems the two women share an unbreakable bond. The Duchess of York is understood to have traveled to Aberdeen last week to visit Her Majesty during her annual summer break at Balmoral Castle. This is the Queen's first solo trip to Balmoral since the death of her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip. During this challenging time, it’s believed that she is drawing comfort from the company of her loved ones, including Sarah.

And according to the Duchess of York, the Queen has remained a huge maternal presence in her life, even more so than her own late mother. Opening up during a recent appearance on the Tea with Twiggy podcast, Sarah praised the Queen’s “forgiving” nature. 

“I absolutely admire the incredible way Her Majesty is so modern . . . and how flexible, and how understanding, and how forgiving and how generous,” Sarah explained, before going on to declare, “My mother-in-law has been more of a mother to me than my mother.

Reflecting on how her relationship with the Queen has inspired her own approach, Sarah revealed that her wonderful mother-in-law is the greatest “mentor” she could’ve had. 

“I absolutely think there is no greater mentor because, from a little girl to now, the consistency of Her Majesty has been a great honour, it’s a huge honour — makes me want to cry,” she said. 

During the enlightening interview, Sarah also explained how the Queen has believed in her, even when she came to doubt herself, often due to the pain of her past.

"Because I went through so much pain losing mum, I lost my way and I became deeply deeply insecure. I kept asking everybody for advice. And I never trusted my own judgement of myself," Sarah heartbreakingly shared.

"[M]y greatest mentor - and I know this sounds so weird to say it - and person who believes in me is the Queen and has never faltered," she later added.

What happened to Sarah Ferguson’s mother?

Sarah Ferguson’s heartfelt remarks about Her Majesty’s role as an inspirational maternal figure in her life come 23 years after she lost her mother, Susan Barrantes. Susan left her family, including 13-year-old Sarah, to move to Argentina and start a new life with her second husband, professional polo player Hector Barrantes. 

She later tragically died in a car accident in 1998 as she drove from her polo farm, just one year after Sarah’s sister-in-law Princess Diana passed away in Paris. Since her mother’s death, Sarah has spoken out about how her experience growing up has shaped her as a mother. 

Speaking to Us Weekly after Princess Eugenie’s pregnancy was announced, Sarah stated that not having her mother there to support her for many years has meant she’s always "present" for her children.

“Having not had my own mother around, I’ve always been determined to be a very present mother with my children, and I know Eugenie will be the same with hers,” the Duchess explained at the time.

Sarah Ferguson is now a doting grandmother to Princess Eugenie’s son August and with Princess Beatrice’s pregnancy announced in May, she will soon be welcoming a new York baby to the family in the autumn.