Sarah Ferguson calls the late Queen ‘a second mother’ and ‘a wonderful friend’ in touching tribute on the first anniversary of her death

• Sarah Ferguson has shared a tribute to the late Queen on anniversary of death
• Read more:  Mike Tindall posts sweet tribute to ‘wonderful’ Queen on first anniversary of her death

Sarah Ferguson has paid a sweet tribute to the late Queen on the first anniversary of her death.

The Duchess of York, 63, described her former mother-in-law as a ‘wonderful friend, mentor and a second mother’ in a touching Instagram post.

Sarah, who was married to the Queen’s ‘favourite son’ Prince Andrew for 10 years, shared a sweet photo of the late monarch in her youth.

‘You were a wonderful friend, a mentor, a second mother to me and grandmother to my daughters who share so much of your courage and heart. 

‘You will always be loved and missed by our family and our nation,’ she wrote.

Sarah, who goes by Fergie, often talks about her closeness to the Queen.

Sarah Ferguson has paid a sweet tribute to the late Queen on the first anniversary of her death

Paying tribute to her former mother-in-law last year following her death, she praised the Queen as a ‘fantastic example of duty and service and steadfastness.’

On a personal note, she thanked the Queen for being ‘the most incredible mother-in-law and friend’, adding: ‘I will always be grateful to her for the generosity she showed me in remaining close to me even after my divorce.’

Sarah Ferguson continues to live at the Royal Lodge in Windsor with her estranged husband Prince Andrew. 

Following news of the Queen’s death, Fergie wrote: ‘I am heartbroken by the passing of Her Majesty the Queen. 

‘She leaves behind an extraordinary legacy: the most fantastic example of duty and service and steadfastness, and a constant steadying presence as our head of state for more than 70 years. 

‘She has given her whole life selflessly to the people of the UK and the Commonwealth.

‘To me, she was the most incredible mother-in-law and friend. I will always be grateful to her for the generosity she showed me in remaining close to me even after my divorce. I will miss her more than words can express.’

The Duchess of York who divorced the Duke of York in 1996, has sparked a raft of royal scandals over the years, but said the monarch was her ‘greatest mentor’ and had always believed in her.

The Duchess of York, 63, described her former mother-in-law as a ‘wonderful friend, mentor and a second mother’ in a touching Instagram post (pictured together in 1990)

Sarah , who goes by Fergie, often talks about her closeness to the Queen (pictured together in the 1990s) 

Speaking on the Tea with Twiggy podcast as she promoted her Mills & Boon romance novel Her Heart For A Compass, the duchess paid tribute to the Queen for being ‘modern, flexible and forgiving.’

Sarah compared their relationship to the one she had with her own mother Susan Barrantes, who passed away in September 1998, saying: ‘I think to myself that honestly my mother-in-law has been more of a mother to me than my mother.’

She continued: ‘My greatest mentor and… person who believes in me is the Queen – and has never faltered. 

‘I absolutely admire the incredible way Her Majesty is so modern… and how flexible, and how understanding, and how forgiving and how generous.’

Sarah is one of many royals paying tribute.

Mike Tindall,  44, who is married to the Queen’s eldest granddaughter Zara, said Her Majesty was a ‘wonderful woman’ as he shared a video on Instagram showing pictures of her throughout her life.

Sarah Ferguson has paid tribute to her former mother-in-law the Queen following her death aged 96

 The father-of-three joined his wife’s uncle the King and other members of the Firm paying tribute to Her Majesty who died at Balmoral Castle one year ago today.

In an unprecedented break with tradition, signifying how touched he has been by the country’s grief at her passing but also pride in a remarkable life of public duty, His Majesty recalled his mother’s ‘long life, devoted service and all she meant to so many of us’.

Initially Charles, 74, had planned only to mark his mother’s death – and his own grief-tinged accession – in ‘quiet contemplation’ at home in Scotland.

In doing so he would follow the same pattern that Queen Elizabeth chose to adopt for 70 years, marking her father King George VI’s death, at Sandringham in Norfolk, away from public gaze.

Mike Tindall has paid a touching tribute to the Queen on the first anniversary of her death

But in recent weeks he began to have a change of heart, having been so deeply touched by the global outpouring of grief after his mother died on September 8 last year.

The King and Queen Camilla chose last night not to return to their own home at Birkhall on the Balmoral estate as planned, but to remain at the castle itself where Elizabeth died at the age of 96, surrounded by the glory of the Scottish Highlands she adored.

They will remain there today, comforted by some of those who were closest to Her late Majesty, spending tonight there as well, before moving back to their neighbouring estate. A source said: ‘I think it will be of comfort to be surrounded by so much that was familiar to her.’

Meanwhile, the Prince and Princess of Wales are to mark the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death with a small private service in Wales. William and Kate will attend St Davids Cathedral in St Davids, the smallest city in Britain, in Pembrokeshire on Friday. They will also meet members of the local community in the adjacent cloister, including local people who met Elizabeth II during her visits to St Davids. 

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