By Molly Claire Goddard
1:05pm PST, Jan 9, 2026
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During a 2024 interview with
The Sunday Times, Sarah Ferguson revealed she knew King Charles III long before marrying his brother
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as her late father,
Major Ronald Ferguson, was His Majesty's polo manager. "My mum [
Susan Barrantes] would say, 'Don't be naughty with the [then] Prince of Wales when he comes to stay. Don't dunk him in the pool.' I'd dunk him straight in the pool and put fake dog waste outside his room. He thought it was hilarious," she said.
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After Sarah Ferguson joined the family in 1986, she and King Charles III remained close. "I've known the King all my life and I absolutely adore him. He's kind and makes me laugh and I love that he still calls me Fergie," she said.
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Sarah Ferguson also shared kind words about King Charles III's second wife, Queen Camilla. "Queen Camilla was close friends with mum [the late Susan Barrantes], which is why we're so close now," the former Duchess of York said. "I admire the extraordinary support she's giving this country. I want to do as much for the Queen as possible. I wish they'd ask me to do more."
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While Sarah Ferguson is fond of Queen Camilla, she was extremely tight with King Charles III's late first wife, Princess Diana. "Diana was my best friend from the age of 14. That's why it's so big that the Queen and I get on now. It's rather nice," she said.
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Although Sarah Ferguson and King Charles III are lifelong friends, he removed her and ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's titles due to their former friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. The leader of England also evicted the two from Royal Lodge. In the aftermath, Sarah was dropped from numerous charities and the publication of her children's book was canceled.
