Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, almost missed his granddaughter Princess Eugenie’s wedding that took place in 2018. It is said that the Duke wanted to stay away for the wedding as he dislikes Sarah Ferguson, the bride’s mother, and his estranged daughter-in-law.

Princess Eugenie is the daughter of Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew and her parents divorced in 1996. Fergie, as her mother is fondly referred to by many, always grabbed the headlines for various wrong reasons including her raunchy photographs, and the news of her being into debts. 

Although Fergie did not get along with the royals, she eventually patched up with Queen Elizabeth II. It has been also reported that she shares an amicable relationship with Andrew, her former husband. However, it is alleged that the Duke of Edinburgh could never forgive her for her ways.

Philip is said to loathe Fergie so much that he almost decided to give his granddaughter’s wedding a miss. Sources claim that Queen Elizabeth’s husband did not wish to see her at all.

Eventually, the Duke of Edinburgh took part in Prince Eugenie’s big day. He was even seen posing for a string of wedding pictures, which also had the Duchess of York. 

According to a royal insider, the prince consented to be seen in those snaps along with the Duchess of York, Eugenie’s mother. The pair were snapped together for the first time in 26 years, a record in itself. However, according to some royal sources, Prince Philip did not interact with Fergie on that day, Express reports. 

According to New Idea, it is an open secret that Queen Elizabeth II’s husband is extremely stubborn and has a low opinion about his estranged daughter-in-law. It is also alleged that the rift between the pair began in 1992 after Eugenie’s mother got separated from Prince Andrew and was in a relationship with John Bryan, her financial advisor.

Even Prince Charles maintains a distance from Fergie and did not include her name in the guestlist for the evening reception he hosted for his son Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018. The royal rift between Andrew’s ex-wife and Philip continues to this day. 

Several royal commentators have even claimed that Philip and Fergie “can’t be in the same room together”. While Fergie has retained her title, she does not get invitations for several royal events. Also, she has lost her entitlement to enjoy a chain of royal luxuries after parting ways from Prince Andrew. 

Despite this, the ex-couple shares a great relationship even now. Andrew and his former wife consented to raise their two daughters together even after the divorce. Sarah Ferguson is known to have stayed together with her former husband until 2004. 

Their daughter Princess Eugenie got married to Jack Brooksbank in 2018 at Windsor Castle’s St George’s Chapel after about eight long years of dating. Many royal members attended this wedding Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.