A close relationship with Diana, and experience of being bullied by the press.
Prince Harry's aunt has some thoughts about Meghan Markle.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shocked the world when they announced their decision to
step down as senior members of the royal family and move out of the U.K.
As they transitioned into their new lives in California, Harry apparently remained close
to his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, before her death.
However, his bonds with King Charles III and Prince William reportedly remain strained.
Since stepping down, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been determined to live life
on their own terms.
This includes raising their two children, Archie and Lilibet, out of the spotlight.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Harry and Meghan have received a fair share of scrutiny for their
decision to step away from royal life, but there's one person who seems to be in complete
support of them, and that's Harry's aunt, Sarah Ferguson.
It's unclear how close Harry and Meghan are to Ferguson these days, but the Duchess of
York seems to be very content with the couple's decision to move out of the U.K., and she
hasn't been shy speaking about it, either.
During an appearance on an Italian talk show in 2021, Ferguson said,
"The most important thing—and I know Diana, if she were here, would say that—is they
are happy.
And [Meghan] makes him happy.
And I love to see that little boy that cried at the funeral to have happiness now."
During a July 2021 interview with "Good Morning America," Ferguson expressed a similar sentiment
about the Sussexes, saying,
"I personally would never be able to judge another, so I just am not like that.
I wish Harry and Meghan so much happiness and I know that Diana would be so proud of
her sons and their wives."
"I love Diana and I will always love her, as though she's here in person."
It's clear that Harry has a strong ally in his aunt, and Ferguson seems to have nothing
but love for Meghan.
Besides both being members of the royal family, Sarah and Meghan share something unique in
common.
The two have separately experienced bullying from the press and have subsequently spoken
up about it.
In 2019, Sarah discussed the negative aspects of social media and the internet, and talked
about past rumors regarding her relationship with Princess Diana.
In an essay for Hello!, Ferguson wrote,
"Women, in particular, are constantly pitted against and compared with each other in a
way that reminds me of how people tried to portray Diana and me all the time as rivals,
which is something neither of us ever really felt."
And in her 2021 interview with "Good Morning America," the interviewer asked Sarah how
she felt about Meghan's mistreatment by the press.
Sarah stood up for Meghan, saying,
"There should be no judgment on race, creed, color or any other denomination."
Meghan also discussed her friendship with Harry's aunt during her famous interview with
Oprah Winfrey.
In fact, Meghan revealed that Sarah gave her a last minute lesson on curtsying prior to
meeting Queen Elizabeth II for the first time.
"And Fergie ran out and she said, 'Are you ready?
Do you know how to curtsy?'
And I was like, 'Oh my goodness, you guys.'"
It sounds as though Sarah has been a caring royal mentor to Meghan, and her support hasn't
ended following the couple's move to California.
For instance, in 2021, Sarah spoke to Entertainment Tonight about Prince Harry's upcoming memoir.
While the book's initial fall 2022 release date has possibly been moved to 2023 following
the queen's death, speculation has been rife regarding the contents of Harry's book.
A press release by publisher Random House stated,
"Prince Harry will share, for the very first time, the definitive account of the experiences,
adventures, losses, and life lessons that have helped shape him."
Ferguson only had kind words regarding Harry's memoir and Meghan's children's book, "The
Bench," telling Entertainment Tonight,
"I think the fact that Meghan's written a children's book is really good, well done
her, because anyone that sits there writing a book, it's really hard."
She then offered her take on Princess Diana's youngest son, stating,
"With Harry, I think he's got a lot to say and, really, I think Diana would be really
proud of her sons, and their wives and the [grandkids]."
Overall, the Duchess of York's opinions about Meghan and Harry are clear.