Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson recently attended the annual Easter Mattins service with other members of the royal family at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. Both Andrew and Ferguson, who were dressed in coordinating outfits, were seen leaving the chapel with other family members such as Princess Anne and her husband. This marked the first public appearance for Prince Andrew and Princess Anne after starting treatment for different forms of cancer. Andrew’s presence at the service was a rare royal appearance, as he had been stripped of his “HRH” honorific in 2022 following a sexual assault lawsuit by Virginia Giuffre in late 2019.
After the scandal surrounding the sexual assault allegations, Prince Andrew took a step back from his royal duties and patronages. Despite denying the accusations, he settled the case with Giuffre out of court for an undisclosed sum. Following the fallout, Andrew had made only a few public appearances, including at the funerals of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, and Charles’ coronation as England’s monarch. This latest Easter service was a significant event for Andrew, as it marked a return to public appearances after the scandal.
Sarah Ferguson, who divorced Prince Andrew in 1996, also lost many of her royal associations. Although she was not invited to Charles’ coronation, she did attend the celebratory concert at Buckingham Palace. Ferguson expressed her feelings about being divorced and not having the same access to royal events on a talk show, mentioning that she will be celebrating in her own way during the coronation. Despite not being part of the official royal events, Ferguson and Andrew still live together at the Royal Lodge in Windsor and were seen taking care of the late queen’s corgis along with their other dogs.
Ferguson’s statements about her divorced status and lack of access to royal events highlighted the challenges faced by non-working members of the royal family. Both Ferguson and Andrew have had to navigate their post-divorce lives in the public eye, with limited access to official royal events. Their joint ownership of the Royal Lodge and shared responsibilities for taking care of the late queen’s pets have kept them connected even after their divorce. The Easter service attendance was a significant moment for both Andrew and Ferguson, as it marked a return to public life following personal and legal challenges.
