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There was never a duo in the royal family quite like Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson. The late Princess of Wales and the Duchess of York were a closely knit pair, and were subsequently compared to one another quite a lot in the press. But it wasn’t until recently, after experienced a very intense health scare, that Sarah began to divest from the idea that she had to compare herself to her late sister-in-law.
In a recent episode of Tea Talks with The Duchess and Sarah, the novelist opened up about how her breast cancer diagnosis earlier this year completely changed her outlook on life, and helped her re-evaluate the pressure she used to put on herself to be more like Diana. “There are extraordinary moments… even what this mastectomy has done for me,” Sarah said. The Duchess of York’s breast cancer diagnosis was publicly disclosed in June 2023. She later underwent a single mastectomy.
“Does it take to have something cut off, a body part cut off, in order for you to wake up? Not because of seeing death, but waking up to stop worrying, stop self-hatred, stop self-doubt, stop not liking yourself,” she continued. “Does it take that? Honestly, I think it was so lucky.”
Sarah, known popularly as Fergie to longtime royal fans, said that, upon reflection, she realized that she “didn’t like myself and that was because, I think, I was always compared to Diana. And I think that at the end, I sort of believed my own press which is, you know, not too good, right?” she said. “So that’s interesting, I think. I’m very lucky that my sister sent me to have the mammogram and they found it in time — I’m very, very lucky.”
The trap of comparison has long been a challenge for many members of the royal family, but particularly the women who marry into The Firm. Hearing Fergie open up about the toll that comparison took on her and what it took for her to realize just how fortunate and lucky she is, was truly illuminating. We’re just glad she felt comfortable and confident enough to share her insight.
Diana: A Closely Guarded Secret by Ken Wharfe
For years, Inspector Ken Wharfe was one of Princess Diana’s closest confidants. The late Princess of Wales’ former bodyguard offers an intimate account of the famous royal’s life in Diana: A Closely Guarded Secret. The memoir offers new insight into what we thought we knew about Princess Diana, with unfiltered anecdotes and reflections on her life through Wharfe’s eyes.
Before you go, click here to see the 100 best photos of the royal family from the past 20 years.
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