Sarah Ferguson felt excluded by the royal family.

Years before her banishment from The Firm over her friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, the former Duchess of York felt distant from her ex-in-laws.

MORE: Follow Wonderwall on MSN for more top news

Ferguson was not invited to William and Kate's wedding

In 2011, Ferguson — who divorced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in 1996 — told Oprah Winfrey she felt "totally worthless" after not being invited to Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding.

"It was so difficult. I wanted to be there with my girls and to be getting them dressed and to go as a family," she said.

"And also, it was so hard because the last bride up that aisle was me," the 66-year-old added of her and the former Duke of York's 1986 nuptials.

Mountbatten-Windsor comforted Ferguson by reminding her how "perfect" their big day was.

Why wasn't Ferguson included?

In 2010, Ferguson was allegedly caught offering an undercover reporter access to her ex-husband for $665,712.50, igniting a public scandal.

"I felt that I ostracized myself by my behavior, by the past, by living with all the regrets of my mistakes," the mother of two told Winfrey.

"I sort of wore a hair shirt and beat myself up most of the day, thinking and regretting, 'Why did I make such a mistake? Why have I made so many mistakes?'" she continued.

How Ferguson found solace

Despite feeling abandoned by the royals, Ferguson admitted that the absence of her former sister-in-law Princess Diana brought her comfort.

"I really love the feeling that sort of Diana and I both weren't there," she said of William's mother, who died in a car crash in 1997.

"But I'm here to say how proud she would have been and Kate looked utterly beautiful," Ferguson noted.

William wanted Ferguson and Mountbatten-Windsor out

Before King Charles III officially stripped Mountbatten-Windsor and Ferguson of their titles and evicted them from their residence at Royal Lodge, the Prince of Wales was vocal about cutting ties with his uncle and former aunt over their connection to Epstein.

"The king does have empathy as Andrew is his brother, but William sees the couple as a threat to the monarchy," royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital.

Journalist Hilary Fordwich also explained to the publication, "Prince William is focused on protecting the monarchy's future and its public image."

What will happen to Beatrice and Eugenie?

Ferguson and Mountbatten-Windsor will not be included in the family's Christmas Day celebrations at Sandringham this year.

Luckily, the ex-couple's daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will still be welcomed by His Majesty and will retain their titles.

"I think that Charles feels quite responsible for these two girls, because it's been a hideous time for them. Really hideous," royal expert Ingrid Seward told The Sun.

"They've both got young children, and I know they've got supportive husbands, but they've both got young children, and I think it's been very, very difficult," she added.

Have Meghan Markle and her estranged father, Thomas Markle, made amends?

After the retired lighting director underwent emergency surgery to amputate his leg, the Duchess of Sussex's representative claimed she reached out. However, the 81-year-old tells a different story.

MORE: Follow Wonderwall on MSN for more top news

Meghan's camp says she spoke to Thomas

Despite not having contact since 2018, Meghan's camp insisted that she'd spoken with Thomas after his surgery.

"I can confirm she has reached out to her father," the representative said in a statement to People.

The Suits actress distanced herself from the patriarch shortly before her wedding to Prince Harry. Meghan claimed Thomas lied to her about staging paparazzi photos for money.

Thomas claims Meghan did not reach out

While speaking with Caroline Graham for the Mail on Sunday, Thomas claimed Meghan never called him.

"Of course, I want to speak to her [Meghan], but I am not sure if these are the right circumstances," he said.

"I've always said I am open to reconciling with my daughter. I have never stopped loving her. I don't want to die estranged from Meghan," Thomas added. "I want to meet my grandkids. It might be nice to meet her husband, too."

Meghan's team confuses the press

According to royal expert Tom Sykes, Meghan's spokesperson initially denied questions about whether the Netflix star had contacted Thomas.

"After a fraught few minutes, Meghan's office changed its tune and, in an extraordinarily chaotic communications debacle, said that Meghan had indeed 'reached out' to Thomas Markle. However, they were unable to say if she had actually spoken to him," the reporter wrote on The Royalist's Substack.

Why did Thomas need surgery?

Meghan's half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., told Daily Mail his father is in intensive care after a blood clot reportedly cut off circulation and required a life-saving surgery.

"My only wish is that Meghan shows my father some compassion. He is literally fighting for his life," Thomas Jr. said. "I took dad to a hospital close to our home, and they did various scans, and the doctors said his life was in imminent danger."

"They raced us by ambulance, with the sirens going, to a much bigger hospital in the center of the city," he continued. "My dad has undergone emergency surgery."

What happened between Meghan and Thomas?

In Meghan and Harry's infamous 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the mom of two opened up about the fallout with Thomas.

"We called my dad and I asked him… He said, 'No, absolutely not,'" she remembered about questioning her dad over selling stories to the media.

"I said, 'If you tell me the truth, we can help,' and he wasn't able to do that. And that, for me, has really resonated, especially now as a mother," Meghan added.

@cbsnews

Meghan details her reaction to finding out her father was working with the U.K. tabloids, on @cbsthismorning. #news #meghanmarkle #royal #oprah

♬ original sound – cbsnews

Harry takes the blame

Because of the extreme attention surrounding the Duke of Sussex and the royal family, Harry feels he's to blame for the rift between Meghan and Thomas.

"She had a father before this and now she doesn't have a father," he explained in the interview, adding, "If Meg wasn't with me, then her dad would still be her dad."

Prince William and Kate Middleton's Forest Lodge rental agreement has been revealed.

It was initially believed that the estate was going to be the Waleses' "forever home," but The Crown Estate announced that the couple doesn't own the property.

"Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales hold a 20-year non-assignable lease with The Crown Estate for Forest Lodge, commencing 5 July 2025," a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the House of Commons briefing said. "Previously a 'grace and favor' residence, it was returned to The Crown Estate by HM Queen Elizabeth II in the early 1990s and has since been let on the open market," it continues."

"Following an approach from HRH The Prince of Wales and discussions with the Royal Household, the Commissioners were asked to consider entering into a lease of the Property to TRH The Prince and Princess of Wales for use as their primary private residence," the briefing continued.

The Crown Estate commissioned independent valuations to ensure the contract was held at a fair standard.

"Negotiations were conducted on an arm's length basis, to ensure appropriate market terms were agreed. Two independent valuers (Hamptons and Savills) were appointed by The Crown Estate to provide valuations of the Property and to review the final Heads of Terms," it said.

Before the document was published, insiders claimed that William and Kate plan to stay at Forest Lodge once they ascend to the throne.

"The new house marks a new era for the family," a source told Us Weekly. "The decision to move into this new home is a significant one that signals independence, though it is not entirely surprising."

The source later hinted at William and Kate relocating to Forest Lodge to maintain a sense of normalcy for their three kids, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

"They have witnessed how the role of monarch can consume one's entire being," the source noted. "While they take their responsibilities very seriously, they are not afraid to say no when necessary."

"To outsiders, it may seem like a big move for the royals to not live in Buckingham Palace, but to insiders, it is not surprising," they continued. "King Charles has not lived there for a long time either and prefers to spend time outside of London."

Prince Harry revealed he enjoys Netflix's The Crown, which is based on the royal family.

"There's people laughing at that — yes, I have actually watched The Crown," Harry told Stephen Colbert on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Watch: The real Prince Harry auditions to play a Hallmark Movie Christmas prince in a surprise appearance on tonight's 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' pic.twitter.com/NneSqRedbq

— LateNighter (@latenightercom) December 4, 2025

Colbert asked Harry if he's seen "recent stuff or the older stuff."

"The older stuff and the more recent stuff," Harry replied.

Colbert later asked if the Duke of Sussex "fact-checks" the series.

"Yes, I do actually," Harry admitted. "Which, by the way, is another reason why it's so important that history has it right."

This Prince could have made it anywhere, anyway, no matter the situation.

He is just a naturally talented, fun, at one w/ his innermost self, humorous, charismatic, loving, gifted man, and the is world his stage.

Harry is truly a Prince-without-border. He is the world's Prince! pic.twitter.com/ZPuy44zw0g

— Carmella (@Sussex5525) December 5, 2025

Aside from chatting about The Crown, Harry threw jabs at Donald Trump during his appearance.

"Well, you Americans are obsessed with Christmas movies, and you're clearly obsessed with royalty, so why not?" Harry asked Colbert.

"Hold on, I wouldn't say we're obsessed with royalty," Colbert replied.

"Really? I heard you elected a king," Harry replied, referring to Trump.

Royal experts criticized the duke, as the president recently visited the U.K. to meet with King Charles III and Prince William.

"Harry's jab at President Trump on Colbert wasn't clever – it was reckless," podcaster Kinsey Schofield told Fox News Digital. "Honestly, how does he think he can hold on to a royal title while taking public swipes at the head of a foreign government?"

"It's also a slap in the face," Schofield continued. "Buckingham Palace put significant effort into a major state visit for President Trump to support diplomatic relations. And, frankly, it's a slap to President Trump as well, considering he agreed to ease up on Harry's immigration situation out of personal respect for King Charles."

In the past, Trump threatened to deport Harry.

"Harry did himself no favors," British royals expert Hilary Fordwich said. "And to hear that decidedly left-leaning New York City audience boo him – he went from cheers and a standing ovation at first, to that. A few minutes' summary, if you ask me, of his entire trajectory."

"His ghastly, self-defeating swipe at both President Trump and his own royal family signaled yet again his terrible judgment," Fordwich added. "While he still trades on his title, he attacks the monarchy and chronically misreads public mood on both sides of the Atlantic. Instead of healing the wounds he caused, he scratches them open – all while claiming to want to heal."

A culinary expert slammed Meghan Markle's cooking skills.

"Meghan Markle should be nowhere near a kitchen," celebrity chef Jameson Stocks, who cooked for King Charles III, told Daily Express.

Stocks was shocked when Meghan microwaved chocolate in an episode of With Love, Meghan.

"It's certainly not a cardinal sin, just unconventional. Much like many of her cooking habits — whether it's leaning over the stove to stir pots on the back burners or the recent turkey blunder she posted on social media, there's a constant flow of questionable methods," Stocks continued, referring to the Duchess of Sussex recently being dubbed "Salmonella Sussex" for seemingly mishandling a turkey.

"It seems those around her are aware of the correct methods, but she deliberately chooses to do things differently," he continued. "In my opinion, she shouldn't have a platform to showcase this."

View this post on Instagram

Meghan's culinary show often focuses on easy shortcuts for creating gourmet dishes at home, but some of her tips might need some tweaking.

"Microwaving chocolate can be a bit tricky," Stocks shared. "You have to place it in, set the power to low, heat it for 20 to 30 seconds, take it out, stir, and then repeat the process."

"The risk is that the chocolate can burn very quickly. For this reason, I always recommend using a bain-marie; it's a foolproof technique," he added.

View this post on Instagram

Due to food safety concerns, Stocks doesn't think Meghan should be seen as a leading voice in the food space.

"Meghan Markle should be nowhere near a kitchen! Especially when presenting such absurdity to the audience. It's more a spoof than a lifestyle show," he said. "For those who frequently melt chocolate, small tempering machines are an affordable and user-friendly option. However, I always recommend the bain-marie method for its simplicity and ease."

@gleamygleamyglamglam

The Co-CEO of Netflix Ted Sarandos has stated many times that Her Royal Highness Meghan the Duchess of Sussex has tremendous power and is an asset yet people who are not CEO's and follow everything she does continue to call her irrevelant. 🤦🏽‍♀️

♬ original sound – Shajuana

Despite the criticism, Netflix's CEO, Ted Sarandos, defended the streaming giant's partnership with Meghan.

"I think Meghan is underestimated in terms of her influence on culture," Sarandos told Variety. "When we dropped the trailer for the Harry & Meghan doc series [in 2022], everything on-screen was dissected in the press for days. The shoes she was wearing sold out all over the world. The Hermès blanket that was on the chair behind her sold out everywhere in the world."

"People are fascinated with Meghan Markle," he continued. "She and Harry are overly dismissed."

Prince Harry praised Doria Ragland's cooking in an episode of Meghan Markle's With Love, Meghan.

During her holiday special, Meghan, who made a very special dish with Top Chef star Tom Colicchio, was joined by her husband for a short time.

"It's a once-a-year thing that she does, so we're going to make some gumbo," Meghan told Colicchio.

"You must have known I was coming. Gumbo is one of my favorites — especially her mom's. But before the fish goes in," Harry admitted.

"I can feel it puncturing through the top of my head," the duke noted while eating.

Prince Harry to the world basically:

"And When It Comes To Gumbo, My Mother-In-Law Got Ya'll Faded!" 🦐 #DoriaRagland #MeghanSussex #AsEver#WithLoveMeghanHolidaySpecial

pic.twitter.com/1F5yLCSee4

— Nelly (@ValleyGirl629) December 3, 2025

After tasting the stew, Harry doubled down on his stance.

"I'm not so sure it's as good as your mom's, but it's certainly close," Harry told Meghan.

"What?! Oh my gosh. Well, my mom will love you for that. You know what? What a good thing to say for your mother-in-law," the Duchess of Sussex replied.

 The Sussexes later noted that Harry "adores" Ragland, whom he finds to be "refreshing," as he "loves being mothered."

If you are upset or angry over a 56 minute Holiday special that does nothing but spread cheer, share recipes and provide gorgeous decor inspo set to a beautifully festive soundtrack, I fear you need to find joy in your life. Because why are you so angry over Meghan cooking gumbo? pic.twitter.com/xxt7bx8ujC

— Your Thick Big Sis (@yourthickbigsis) December 3, 2025

Fans quickly weighed in on the cooking segment on X.

"If you are upset or angry over a 56-minute Holiday special that does nothing but spread cheer, share recipes and provide gorgeous decor inspo set to a beautifully festive soundtrack, I fear you need to find joy in your life," one user wrote. "Because why are you so angry over Meghan cooking gumbo?"

"Mama Doria is making her son-in-law, Prince Harry, a separate special gumbo just for him because he can't tolerate spice and seafood," another penned.

"It was Prince Harry teasing Princess Meghan about her gumbo not being as good as his mother-in-law's for me lmao the way they both made the same exact face when he said it too?! Soulmatism is off the charts with those two," a third said. "Wow!"

One social media user urged the couple to take on another Netflix project together.

"Petition for Meghan and Harry to have their own cooking show," they said. "The chemistry is off the charts."

Meghan Markle's half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., is begging the duchess to reconcile with her estranged father, Thomas Markle, after his major health crisis.

"My only wish is that Meghan shows my father some compassion. He is literally fighting for his life," Thomas Jr. told Daily Mail. "I took dad to a hospital close to our home, and they did various scans, and the doctors said his life was in imminent danger."

"They raced us by ambulance, with the sirens going, to a much bigger hospital in the centre of the city," he added. "My dad has undergone emergency surgery."

Thomas Jr. revealed his father had his leg amputated after being in intensive care.

"My dad is being very brave. His foot turned blue and then black. It happened very quickly. I took him to a local hospital, and they did some scans and an ultrasound and said the leg had to be amputated," Thomas Jr. said.

"There was no option. I was told the leg had to be removed, and it was a case of life or death," he added. "One of his doctors said the next two or three days are critical. His left leg has been removed below the knee. They were worried about infection setting in – sepsis or gangrene. The flesh was black and dying."

@cbsnews

Meghan details her reaction to finding out her father was working with the U.K. tabloids, on @cbsthismorning. #news #meghanmarkle #royal #oprah

♬ original sound – cbsnews

Meghan cut ties with her dad after it was reported that he staged paparazzi photos leading up to the Suits star's wedding. In her explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Duchess of Sussex discussed the scandal.

"There was such an obsession about anything in my world, including tracking down my parents. And I did everything I could to protect both of them in that media frenzy," Meghan said. "But for over a year, the U.K. tabloids were trying to find my dad, offering people so much money to try to find his address."

"Once they did, I remember being told there was a huge headline like, 'We found him' or 'We've got him,'" the duchess continued. "You're talking about someone's father. And from that point, the tabloids, they moved into the apartment next door and across from him. Descended on this small town, which is giving him gifts. The whole thing brings us to where we are today."

Meghan admitted that her father's actions were deeply hurtful.

"If we were going to use the word betrayal, it's because when I asked him, when we were told by the comms team, this is a story that was going to be coming out, which, by the way, the tabloids had apparently known for a month or so and decided to hold until the Sunday before our wedding because they wanted to create drama, which is also a really key point in all this," she said.

Sarah Ferguson refuses to speak ill of Queen Elizabeth II.

Ferguson is rumored to be working on an explosive tell-all, but she's unlikely to complain about her late mother-in-law.

Ferguson, who often speaks highly of Elizabeth, was so close to the late monarch that she inherited Her Majesty's beloved corgis. In an appearance on the "Tea with Twiggy" podcast, Ferguson praised their relationship.

"I think to myself that honestly, my mother-in-law has been more of a mother to me than my mother," the mom of two said before Elizabeth's passing. "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 and makes me want to cry."

"Because I went through so much pain losing mom, I lost my way, and I became deeply, deeply insecure. I kept asking everybody for advice," she continued. "And I never trusted my own judgment of myself. I have got my lovely ex-husband Andrew – he always believes in me and always did believe in me. But my greatest mentor – and I know this sounds so weird to say it – and the person who believes in me is the Queen and has never faltered."

In the past, Ferguson seemed to try to draw negative attention to Elizabeth. In her 1996 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the former royal opened up about her struggles to adjust to the lifestyle.

@kyrashop.106000

Sarah Ferguson On Being A Royal- -It's Not A Fairytale- – The Oprah Winfrey Show – OWN #oprah #oprahwinfrey #oprahwinfreyshow #oprahwinfreynetwork #familystorytime

♬ original sound – The Oprah Winfrey Show – kyrashop.106000

"You didn't marry the fairy tale, you married a man," Ferguson said on The Oprah Winfrey Show. "You fell in love and married a man, and then you have to come to terms with the fairy tale. Now it's not a fairy tale, it's real life."

Winfrey asked the ex-duchess why she didn't just "play the game" to stay in the royal fold. "You could do that, and if that's what suits you, then that's what suits you," Ferguson replied.

While Ferguson tried not to cause controversy for Elizabeth, she didn't shy away from chatting about Princess Diana and King Charles III's divorce.

"But Diana and I are like rivers, we want to learn more, we want to go around the corner, we are hungry for more," the author shared.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor suffered another loss, as Maidenhead — a town in England — residents push to change the name of a street named after him.

According to the Daily Express, a"large number" of locals want to change the name of Prince Andrew Road after his scandal.

"It's not a name that you want attributed to where you're living," Aman Gandhi, who lives on Prince Andrew Road, told the BBC. "From my perspective, the sooner [the renaming] comes, the better."

"You've got to change all your deeds. Everything has to be changed," another resident shared. "And I guess I just feel it's a lot of hassle to do that."

Amid the street drama, the ex-duke is trying to find a new address after being kicked out of Royal Lodge.

An insider told The Daily Beast that Andrew wants a "substantial six or seven bedroom house on the Sandringham Estate, complete with staff including a cook, gardener, housekeeper, driver and police security."

"Andrew has done exactly what has been asked of him, and he just wants to be left alone. He is giving up the lease on one of England's finest houses and expects to be treated fairly," the source added.

A former courtier added that things with Mountbatten-Windsor are "always going to be about money."

"Andrew is essentially being bought out of the lease, so he will haggle over every last detail of the deal," the source shared.

King Charles III stripped away his brother's royal privileges and titles after Virginia Giuffre's assault allegations against Mountbatten-Windsor resurfaced. As more details about Mountbatten-Windsor's alleged misconduct and friendship with Jeffrey Epstein emerge, he is pushed further into hiding.

"His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the style, titles and honors of Prince Andrew. Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor," Buckingham Palace said in a statement. "His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence. Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease, and he will move to alternative private accommodation. These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him."

"Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse," the statement continued.