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Sarah Ferguson has long shared a close relationship with her daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, with the three affectionately referring to themselves as the “tripod”. However, their strong family bond did not mean the princesses were spared the occasional reprimand while growing up.
Shortly after her 1996 divorce from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duchess of York, then 37, appeared in an interview with Canadian television presenter Dini Petty on CTV.
During the conversation, Sarah reflected on raising her two daughters and the lessons she hoped to pass on to them. She explained that encouraging Beatrice and Eugenie to “show emotion” and “be themselves” was an important part of her approach to motherhood.
Looking back on her own experiences, she acknowledged that parenting had also involved learning from personal mistakes.
“I’ve been on this huge road of learning with mistakes and how to do things,” Sarah said.
She then recalled a particular incident involving her younger daughter, Eugenie, revealing how an ordinary shopping trip to a shoe store had ended with the young princess receiving a firm telling-off.
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A week after the shopping trip, Sarah noticed that Eugenie had still not worn the “lovely little pair of shoes” they had bought together.
The young princess eventually admitted that she “didn’t like them” and complained that they were “too small”. Her reluctance to wear the shoes prompted Sarah to have a serious conversation with her daughter about expressing her true feelings.
Recalling the moment during her interview with Dini Petty, Sarah explained: “I immediately stopped what I was doing, sat her down and said, ‘I just want you to understand, I don’t want you to go through the same mistakes mummy’s made at 37. I want you to learn now at 6.'”
For Sarah, the incident became an important reminder of why she wanted her children to feel comfortable speaking honestly rather than hiding their opinions.
Reflecting on what both mother and daughter had learned, she added: “It taught me such a huge lesson. She’s now feeling much better as she’s not frightened to speak her mind.”
Sarah Ferguson’s relаtionship with Beatricе and Eugenie
For many years, Sarah Ferguson and her daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, were recognised for their particularly strong family relationship. The three frequently appeared together at royal events and public engagements, reflecting the close bond they shared.
More recently, however, Sarah has largely withdrawn from public view amid renewed attention surrounding her past friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
Her reduced public presence has also meant fewer visible family appearances. Sarah has reportedly not been photographed alongside Beatrice and Eugenie since the christening of her granddaughter Athena in December 2025.
Although the family was previously known for spending considerable time together, it remains unclear when Sarah last met privately with her two daughters.
Sarah Ferguson has previously spoken about the importance of maintaining a strong connection with her family, describing how she, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and their two daughters made a conscious effort to remain united.
In an earlier interview with HELLO!, she used the image of a table to explain the role each family member played in supporting the others.
She said: “A table goes best with four legs. A table can’t stand on three legs, really, so you have the Duke and I, and the two girls.
“We’re a family unit, and we lead by example. We support each other emotionally, and we support each other health-wise. At least every two weeks we sit down together and communicate, the four of us.”
The former Duchess also expressed considerable pride in the way she had raised Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, suggesting that their characters reflected the values she had tried to instil in them.
Reflecting on motherhood, Sarah added: “I think the one thing I’ve done incredibly well – although I say it myself – is that I’m a really good mum. And I think that my girls show that.”
Has Sarah Ferguson mеt Princess Eugenie’s new bаby?
Sarah Ferguson has reportedly returned to Britain after spending several months overseas following her departure from Royal Lodge in Windsor.
Despite her reported return to the UK, it remains unclear whether the former Duchess of York has had an opportunity to meet the newest member of her family, Princess Eugenie’s baby daughter, Adelaide.
Ahead of Princess Eugenie’s daughter Adelaide’s birth on 3 August 2026, HELLO! royal editor Emily Nash reflected on how the family’s circumstances had changed since the arrival of Eugenie’s two older children.
She suggested that the new baby would enter a family environment quite different from the one her brothers, August and Ernest, had experienced during their early years.
Emily explained: “This baby will be born into very different family dynamics to those experienced by his or her older siblings
“While their grandmother and grandfather have spent plenty of time with August and Ernest, they are likely to keep more of a distance this time around, although I’m sure Sarah will find it very hard to stay away from a new grandchild.”
