EXCLUSIVE: Radar Reveals Shamed Sarah Ferguson's 'Jaw-Dropping' Reaction to Her Princess Daughters' 'Christmas Betrayal'
Radar revealed Sarah Ferguson reacted in shock to her daughters' snub.
Jan. 16 2026, Published 2:58 p.m. ET
Sarah Ferguson responded with acceptance rather than anger after her daughters chose to spend Christmas with the royal family at Sandringham – a decision that left her excluded but, according to sources, reaffirmed her belief their loyalty to the Crown must come before personal hurt.
As RadarOnline.com reported, the fallen Duchess of York, 66, kept a notably low profile over the festive period while her girls Princess Beatrice, 37, and Princess Eugenie, 35, joined King Charles III, 77, and senior royals at Sandringham in Norfolk.
No Meltdown, No Revenge: Insiders Stunned By Fergie's Calm
Sarah Ferguson accepted her daughters’ Christmas decision without anger.
The sisters' attendance followed their continued distancing from their scandal-swamped parents, Ferguson and her former husband the ex-Prince Andrew, 65, from official royal life amid years of controversy and after the fallout from their joint Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
Andrew and Sarah were not invited to the gathering, while their daughters faced a public choice between family solidarity and visible allegiance to the monarchy.
A friend of Sarah's has now told us her reaction surprised those close to her.
"Sarah's reaction genuinely caught people off guard because it was so measured and clear-eyed," the insider added.
"Rather than seeing it as a personal rejection, she recognized the reality her daughters are operating in. Beatrice and Eugenie are royal princesses, and if they want to protect their positions and long-term standing within the institution, they have to be visibly aligned with it at moments like Christmas."
The source continued: "Sarah didn't lash out or dwell on the emotional sting."
"Instead, there was a sense of acceptance and even grace. Sarah understands that the monarchy is larger than any one relationship, including her own with her daughters.
"In her mind, this wasn't a betrayal so much as an unavoidable choice, and she met it with forgiveness and an awareness that her daughters were doing what they believed was necessary for their future.
"The level of calm was honestly jaw-dropping, considering many saw Beatrice and Eugenie spending Christmas with the royals and not their parents as a major betrayal."
Proudest Legacy: Why Ferguson Stood Back In Silence
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie spent Christmas with the royal family at Sandringham.
The source also said Sarah views Beatrice and Eugenie as her greatest contribution to the monarchy.
"She has long believed that her proudest contribution to the monarchy is the way she brought up her daughters, with a strong sense of responsibility and respect for duty," the insider went on.
"Because of that, even though the decision clearly caused her personal pain, she could see the bigger picture. She understood why Beatrice and Eugenie felt they had to accept the invitation and stand with the Crown."
The friend added: "Rather than making a public issue of it, Sarah chose to back them privately. She stepped aside without complaint, supporting them from a distance and accepting that, in this moment, their obligations as royal princesses had to come before her own feelings."
Andrew's Strategic Pressure on His Daughters
Ferguson understood that loyalty to the Crown came first for her daughters.
Other royal watchers believe Andrew may even have encouraged his daughters to attend the royal – to spy on the royals and give him feedback.
A palace mole said: "I really don't believe Beatrice and Eugenie were given much room to decide for themselves.
"From Andrew's perspective, attending Sandringham was non-negotiable, and he made that clear to them.
"He wanted them there, not just out of duty, but because it keeps him connected to what is happening behind palace doors."
The source continued: "The girls are effectively his last remaining link to the royal family, and he knows that. By encouraging them to go, he ensured he still had an indirect presence and a way of understanding how he is being talked about.
"I'm convinced he leaned heavily on them and played a significant role in persuading them that attending was something they simply had to do."
Royal Exile and Failed Reconciliation Efforts
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Andrew and Ferguson did not receive an invitation to Sandringham.
The York family had reunited briefly earlier in December at the christening of Beatrice's daughter Athena at St. James's Palace.
Andrew and Sarah arrived and left discreetly, avoiding photographs and skipping a low-key after-party in central London, signaling their continued royal exile.
King Charles has publicly distanced himself from both Andrew and Sarah following their association with Jeffrey Epstein, stripping Andrew of military titles and royal patronages and requiring the former couple to give up their shared Royal Lodge mansion.
Despite this, Sarah is said to have made efforts to repair relations. She is said to have sent what one palace aide described as a "begging letter" Christmas message to King Charles and Queen Camilla, 78, expressing regret over past controversies involving the House of York.
Another source blasted that Ferguson was "disgracing herself with these cringey Christmas messages" – with one of them said to have read: "I hope we meet again."
