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Sarah Ferguson had this very normal job before she married into the royal family

Sarah, Duchess of York at her daughter Princess Eugenie’s wedding in October [Photo: Getty]
Sarah, Duchess of York at her daughter Princess Eugenie’s wedding in October [Photo: Getty]

She may be one of the most well-known faces from the royal family now, but Sarah Ferguson had a very humble beginning.

The 59-year-old, who was married to Prince Andrew from 1986 until they separated in 1992, started out as a cleaner when she was a teenager, long before she became known as the Duchess of York.

“You won’t believe it but when I was 18, I cleaned very good mirrors,” Fergie said on the Skavlan TV show in Stockholm.

Sarah Ferguson was a cleaner before meeting Prince Andrew. [Photo: Getty Images]
Sarah Ferguson was a cleaner before meeting Prince Andrew. [Photo: Getty Images]

“I cleaned lavatories when I was 18 and graduate’s bedrooms; they all left it very messy.

“And then I waitressed in a strudel house.”

Then Fergie, who is mother to Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, went on to work for a public relation firm for an art gallery.

However, she put that on hold in 1986, when Prince Andrew got down on one knee and proposed.

The pair were introduced by Princess Diana in 1985, with Sarah Ferguson reportedly getting close to the princess because her dad was Prince Charles’ polo manager.

After a short year of dating, Buckingham Palace announced that 26-year-old navy office Prince Andrew had popped the question to 26-year-old Sarah Ferguson.

Fergie and Prince Andrew married in 1986. [Photo: Getty Images]
Fergie and Prince Andrew married in 1986. [Photo: Getty Images]

Guests on the day included US First Lady Nancy Regan and UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, as well as Princess Diana and the rest of the royal family.

Fergie and Prince Andrew enjoyed years of wedded bliss, welcoming Princess Beatrice into the world in 1988 and Prince Eugenie in 1990.

However, Buckingham Palace released a statement in 1993 announcing that the Duke and Duchess of York were splitting.

Since then, Fergie has continued her charity work and become an author of children’s books.

She also still lives with Prince Andrew at Royal Lodge, in Windsor.

After their separation, Fergie revealed she was heavily in debt and told Hello! magazine that if it wasn’t for Prince Andrew’s kindness, she would have been ‘homeless’.



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