Fergie THE COMEBACK QUEEN

She was once a royal outcast. But now King Charles has brought the Duchess of York back in from the cold,

- Emily Andrews

There was a time when Sarah, Duchess of York, was persona non grata. With tabloid scandals, divorce, near bankruptcy and endless moneymaking ventures, Fergie was the royal enfant terrible cut adrift from the Firm.

Despite her fairy-tale marriage to Prince Andrew and being mother to two princesses, she was effectively banned from royal life after Prince Philip blamed her for bringing the family into disrepute.

But despite all of this - and having to spend every Christmas on her own while her girls were taken to Sandringham - she remained positive and upbeat with only public praise for the monarchy.

Now she has found success as a Mills & Boon author and personal happiness as a grandmother, and has been outspoken in support of her 'best friend' Prince Andrew, with whom she still lives at Royal Lodge in Windsor. The reversal in her fortunes has even seen her welcomed back to royal events - King Charles invited her to Christmas at Sandringham (in 2023), the Easter service at Windsor Castle and a Buckingham Palace reception for cancer charities in April. So how has she done it? And does this mean a royal rehabilitation for the Duke of York?

Relentless optimism

Part of the reason for Fergie's fall from grace is also the explanation for her revival. She is relentlessly optimistic and cheery - seeing the good in everyone and always wanting to help.

As Princess Beatrice, 36, said, 'I feel so grateful that we're able to share our mum with so many people because she's such a force to be reckoned with.'