This is why Sarah Ferguson was noticeably absent from daughter Princess Beatrice's wedding pictures

As was Beatrice's father, Prince Andrew...

Princess Beatrice with her mother Sarah Ferguson and father Prince Andrew
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, was noticeably absent from Princess Beatrice's wedding pictures - and now a royal commentator has revealed why.


Princess Beatrice's secret wedding surprised many royal fans around the world, coming weeks after the announced she had to cancel the bigger ceremony she had planned.

But after the news was confirmed and official pictures of the beautiful nuptial were released, there was one noticeable absence - her mother, Sarah Ferguson.

The royal caused confusion when she failed to mention the joyous day on her social media channels, and instead continued to post as usual.

Now, a royal expert revealed that the picture snub was down to Prince Andrew's connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

A photo posted by on

Camilla Tominey wrote in the Daily Telegraph, 'Despite their 1992 separation and divorce four years later, Andrew and ‘Fergie’ vowed to remain amicable for the sake of their own two princess daughters - Beatrice and Eugenie.

'So their exclusion from their eldest child’s official wedding photographs, amid a continuing scandal over the Duke’s links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, will cut like a knife.

She continued, 'It seemingly wasn’t enough for the ceremony to be held in secret - effectively sparing the Queen’s beleaguered son from appearing in public.

'The Royal powers that be had clearly decided it was probably not a good idea for him to feature in the historic pictorial record of the event either. It is undoubtedly a spectacular fall from grace for the 60-year-old Royal who had gained a reputation for leaving no one in any doubt of his status as the sovereign's second-born son.

'Instead, the public has been treated to two - admittedly beautiful - images of the bride and groom emerging through the floral archway of the intimate 19th-century church in Windsor Great Park, and posing alongside the Queen and Prince Philip, 99.'

Mariana Cerqueira

Mariana is the managing editor of woman&home. She has previously worked for lifestyle titles including GoodtoKnow covering all aspects of women’s lifestyle - from the Royal Family, beauty and fashion to wellness and travel. She was nominated for AOP Digital Journalist of the Year in 2020, and for New Digital Talent of the Year at the 2016 PPA Digital Awards. She’s mildly obsessed with TV (reality TV shows included) and spends far too much time planning her next trip away.