Meghan Markle inspiration? Sarah Ferguson told Oprah ‘royal life is not a fairytale’

Meghan’s first post-royal interview will air in the US on March 7, on CBS. She will be discussing the last dramatic few years of her life on the royal frontline with her friend and TV talk show legend Oprah Winfrey. Her husband, Prince Harry, is set to join her for the second half of the interview to discuss the couple’s life moving forward in the US. Oprah’s pal and fellow broadcaster Gayle King claimed “nothing is off-limits” in the interview – leading a royal source to warn: “Time to hide behind the sofa at the Palace.”

But the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are not the first royals to approach Oprah after removing themselves from Palace life.

Sarah Ferguson, Harry’s aunt, was married to Prince Andrew for a decade up until their astonishing divorce in 1996.

The infamous “toe-sucking scandal” of 1992 revealed she had been unfaithful during her marriage and she faced significant backlash in the years after.

The Duchess of York – affectionately known as Fergie – subsequently spoke to Oprah in 1996, shortly after her divorce was finalised, meaning she was no longer a working royal.

Discussing the reality of life behind Palace walls, Fergie said: “That is the fairytale, but then comes the realism that you didn’t marry the fairytale, you married your man.

“You fell in love and you married the man – and then you’ve got to come to terms with the fairytale.

“Now, it’s not a fairytale – it’s real life, so to speak.

“They [the royals] think it’s real life in there [the Palace].”

In response, Oprah noted: “Women suffer all over the world from a lack of self-esteem.”

Fergie nodded and replied: “That’s what I’ve tried to say – I’ve been in that most privileged position, I’ve been on that pedestal, you can’t get more of a dream.”

Oprah then asked why Fergie and Princess Diana, who divorced Prince Charles that same year, did not “just play the game” considering the life of luxury they had enjoyed.

Fergie replied: “You could do that, you could do that – if that’s what suits you, that’s what suits you.

“But I’m afraid, for Diana and I, we’re like rivers, we want to learn more, we are hungry for life. We’re very curious.”

Oprah asked: “[So] to have this life means you ultimately lose yourself – that you can play the game, and you have to play by the rules?”

The Duchess of York agreed.

Notably, Fergie did not sign a confidentiality agreement as part of her divorce settlement, and in turn was completely cut off from the royal finances – unlike her sister-in-law Princess Diana.

Diana agreed not to speak out about her marriage or the Royal Family and received a settlement of £17million along with £400,000 per year.

In comparison, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex pledged to continue upholding the monarchy’s values upon their official royal exit last year, but are not thought to have had an official agreement.

Indeed, the unofficial mantra of “never complain, never explain” already seems to contradict the idea of agreeing to an “intimate” conversation with a TV talk show legend.

Like Fergie, the Sussexes have also sought financial independence since leaving the Firm.