Fergie's silver lining as she celebrates turning 64 after tumultuous year
It's been an eventful year for Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, who will be celebrating her birthday today and thanking her lucky stars. Rewind back to June and fans of her podcast will remember her announcing she had breast cancer, which she is now in recovery from.
Then just this month, the devastating news broke that her former aide Jenean Chapman, 46, had been murdered, allegedly by her husband. Reacting to the shocking news of Jenean's death, Sarah wrote: "My heart breaks for her family and friends."
But despite her difficult year, the duchess has remained positive thanking the medical staff who saved her life. And there’s a silver lining to her breast cancer surgery and recovery because she’s learnt to love herself at last. Here, The Mirror takes a look back at her tumultuous year...
Cancer diagnosis
Sarah, the Duchess of York is recovering from breast cancer (Getty Images)Fergie has openly discussed her cancer journey on her podcast 'Tea Talks', telling her podcast listeners she has named her newly constructed breast ‘Kevin’ because it makes her laugh. The grandmother of three spent four days in intensive care at King Edward VII's Hospital in London where she underwent a single mastectomy.
Remaining positive, the Duchess added: "I'm taking this as a real gift to me to change my life, to nurture myself." Following her successful surgery, Fergie is now urging others to take advantage of cancer screening programmes after she received her diagnosis following a routine screening appointment.
Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him
She even revealed how her cancer surgery has actually helped her to "like herself" by putting things into perspective. During her surgery, she has learnt to stop comparing herself to others as well as “stop worrying, stop self-hatred, stop self-doubt, stop all these things. Stop not liking yourself."
Unwavering support from ex-husband
Prince Andrew and Sarah married in 1986 but split just five years later in 1991 before divorcing in 1996. However the pair are still good friends and when Sarah is in the UK, she stays with Prince Andrew at Royal Lodge in Windsor.
Not only that but they go on holiday together too - in 2019, Sarah and Andrew enjoyed a trip to Bahrain with Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. Following her cancer diagnosis, Fergie is said to have received immense support from her family, including her ex-husband. Andrew and their two daughters, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, rushed to the Duchess of York's aid as she recovered from her hospital procedure and Fergie was taken to Royal Lodge to recuperate.
Over the years, Sarah has spoken out many times in support of her ex-husband and in 2000 even claimed she and Andrew had thought of remarrying but said the late Prince Philip wouldn't allow it. And in 2010 she admitted that if they had their time again, they would stand up to those who pushed them apart. She said: “Both Andrew and I… both of us say now if we could go back we would definitely play it differently and we should have learnt how to play the chess game differently."
Shocking death of former aide
Jenean Chapman worked as a personal assistant for the Duchess of York (NBC 5)A few weeks ago, Sarah paid tribute to a former personal assistant who was found dead in the US, saying "my heart breaks for her family and friends". Jenean Chapman, 46, was found dead at her apartment in Dallas on September 25 after concerned colleagues called police when she didn't show up to work. Police arrested her husband, James Michael Patrick, 48, 200 miles away in Austin - after her family described their relationship as "rocky” and "toxic”.
Sarah said she was 'shocked and saddened' by the death of Jenean, who she remembered as "loyal, hardworking, beautiful, and fun". On Instagram, the duchess wrote: "I am shocked and saddened to learn that Jenean Chapman, who worked with me as my personal assistant many years ago, has been murdered in Dallas aged just 46. A suspect is in custody. Jenean was loyal, hardworking, beautiful, and fun and my heart breaks for her family and friends. I heard from her just a couple of months ago and she seemed so happy."
At least the duchess can console herself in the knowledge that working for her was one of the happiest times of Jenean’s life. The family of the former royal aide said working with Sarah Ferguson "was the best thing that could have happened to our sister."
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