Fergie ‘cuts short Balmoral trip with Prince Andrew’ after Prince Philip arrives ‘several days early’ for holiday
FERGIE cut short her week-long trip to Balmoral with Prince Andrew after Prince Philip arrived early for his summer holiday, reports claim.
The Duke of Edinburgh supposedly refused to be in the same room as Sarah Ferguson for years after her divorce from Prince Andrew in 1996.
The Sun reported in April that Philip, 98, had removed his long-standing objection to Andrew’s relationship with Fergie and “no longer cares”.
But news of her hastened departure from the Scottish retreat - after just two days - suggests there may still be some remaining tension.
It could be quite a setback for Fergie, who has done her best to ingratiate herself with The Firm.
But she still does have one very important champion - the Queen – who invited Fergie to Balmoral for the fourth summer in a row.
Fergie and Andrew, both 59, travelled to the Highlands separately to avoid being pictured together, given the recent focus on their relationship.
Andy flew to Aberdeen airport on a private jet on Tuesday, while Fergie landed on a commercial flight on Thursday.
But sources told the that Fergie had to unexpectedly leave for London on Saturday afternoon.
She was spotted catching a British Airways flight at nearby Aberdeen Airport, according to the paper.
PHILIP ARRIVES 'SEVERAL DAYS EARLY'
An insider said: “In previous years the duchess has left the day before the Queen’s husband arrives.
“This year he arrived yesterday, several days earlier than expected, which is rather strange, so the duchess left.”
She was expected to spend up to a week with Prince Andrew and their daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie at the monarch’s summer residence.
The Sun revealed the news that Andrew and Fergie had travelled to Balmoral as guests of the Queen.
A royal insider revealed: “It’s not the first time they’ve been there as a couple in recent years but it’s significant because of all the rumours about them getting back together.
“The Queen wanted them there as a family and it’s very much her giving the private nod of approval.”
'STRAINED' RELATIONSHIP WITH PHILIP
Philip and Fergie are understood to have had a strained relationship for years, stemming from a series of scandals.
The Queen’s husband supposedly refused to speak to Fergie after the infamous “toe-sucking scandal”.
Five months after her separation from Andrew in 1992, intimate photos of the Duchess and her 'financial advisor', taken at her holiday villa in St Tropez, were published.
Texan millionaire John Bryan was pictured kissing and sucking the Duchess' toes and the arch of her foot.
Fergie and Andrew announced their divorce in May 1996.
Her extravagant spending left her owing £5million to the royal bank, Coutts, which she worked hard to recoup following their divorce.
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However, after a series of bad investments, Fergie was on the brink of bankruptcy in 2010.
In April 2009 she was left off Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding guest list.
But she has since been welcomed back into the fold and attended Prince Harry's wedding.
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