Sarah Ferguson shades Harry and Meghan’s royal status: ‘Either in or out’

The royal treatment comes at a price.

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, insisted herself a woman of her word during a recent interview, in which she declared that family members who choose to leave the Royal sphere must ultimately decide if they’re “in or out.”

“You can’t have it both ways,” the 63-year-old ex-wife of Prince Andrew told The Independent. “You can’t sit on the fence and keep one foot in and one foot out. You’re either in or out.”

Ferguson — widely known as Fergie — reiterated that once departs the Royal family, they need to stick to their decision.

“Don’t cry about not being invited to weddings. You chose to leave, now go and live it – and be it,” she said.

Fergie and the Prince split in 1992, which was finalized in 1996. By decree of Queen Elizabeth II, the divorce triggered the revocation of Fergie’s “Her Royal Highness” (HRH) title, though she was allowed to continue to be called Duchess — and has maintained a close relationship with the family since then.

Fergie’s comments could be construed as a thinly veiled dig at Prince Harry and Megan Markle — who exited the Royal family of their own volition in January 2020, and were subsequently stripped of their HRH titles. Speaking of her own departure 27 years ago, she continued, “It was my decision. If I’m going to go, then go”.

The Duchess was also asked if she can relate to Harry and Markle’s poor relationship with the tabloids.

Fergie — who also moonlights as a romance novelist — said it was “an immense honor” to join the Royal family when she did in 1986, “but it also came with pressures of being in the public eye.”

“I struggled with that at times, and I think social media probably makes it even more difficult today,” she said.

Seemingly turning her focus to Harry, Fergie also said, “I don’t believe in judging anyone, and I would just ask for a little more kindness.”

Speaking to People last month, the mom to Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie had “no judgment” about the couple’s decision to step away from royal life.

“I don’t believe that any single person has the right to judge another person. I’m not in a position myself to make any judgments,” Ferguson told the oulet. “I have been judged all my life, and I have no judgment on the Sussexes.”