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Sarah Ferguson may have given several 'tell all' interviews over the years, but she always refused to speak ill of her former mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II. Despite her 1992 separation and subsequent divorce four years later from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and a series of controversial decisions, Sarah maintained regular contact with the late Queen, as they shared many interests.

Their closeness was perfectly exemplified when Sarah appeared on the Tea with Twiggy podcast. Speaking before the Queen died in 2021, she said: "I think to myself that honestly, my mother-in-law has been more of a mother to me than my mother. 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."

Sarah went on: "Because I went through so much pain losing mum, I lost my way, and I became deeply, deeply insecure. I kept asking everybody for advice. 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."

While Sarah never criticised the late Queen, she did air her views on a number of other subjects, including her friendship with Diana, Princess of Wales, and her lack of invitation to the Prince and Princess of Wales' 2011 wedding.

Sarah spoke about her snub to US talk show host, Oprah Winfrey, on her show shortly after the big day.

Referring to her lack of invitation, Sarah said: "It was so difficult. Because I wanted to be there with my girls ... and to be getting them dressed and to go as a family. And it was also hard because the last bride up that aisle was me." She revealed she was speaking to her family on the phone before they left for Westminster Abbey and explained what Andrew said to her.

"He was saying, 'It's okay. Just remember, we had such a good day. Our wedding was so perfect. Because we're such a unit together'. He made me feel very part of the day on April 29th. I think what I felt was that I went through the phase of feeling so totally worthless and that [it] was quite right they didn't invite me,"

Speaking about Diana, Sarah said: "I really love the feeling that sort of Diana and I both weren't there," before adding that she believed Prince William's mother would have been "so proud of her son". She added: "But I'm here to say how proud she would have been and Kate looked utterly beautiful."