Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew: a look back at Fergie's 1986 royal wedding

How Princess Eugenie's mother and father tied the knot in style
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Alice Budd12 October 2018

Sarah Ferguson described her wedding to Prince Andrew as "mesmeric" and "extraordinary" in a 2011 interview with Piers Morgan.

“It’s just unfathomable. You can’t explain it," she said.

“And you’re so in love. Anyway, it’s your wedding day. Like every bride’s wedding day, it’s a special day."

In the run up to their daughter Princess Eugenie's wedding to Jack Brooksbank tomorrow, Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew are most likely experiencing a little nostalgia.

So here, we take a look back at their own magical day.

The newly created Duke of York and Duchess of York wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace
PA Archive/PA Images

When did Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew meet?

Sarah Ferguson, often nicknamed 'Fergie', first met Prince Andrew when they were children.

The pair were reintroduced in 1985 however, at a party at Floors Castle. And the rest, as they say, is history.

How did they get engaged?

Prince Andrew proposed to Sarah Ferguson on his 26th birthday, when he was 4th in line to the throne. The couple announced their engagement on March 19, 1986.

Andrew designed the engagement ring himself. He chose a Burma ruby surrounded by ten drop diamonds, reportedly to complement Fergie’s auburn hair.

What's interesting about their daughter, Princess Eugenie’s, engagement ring is that it bears a striking resemblance to that of her mother’s, with the band featuring a pink padparadscha sapphire.

(PA Archive/PA Images)
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When did they get married?

The Royal Wedding was held on Wednesday July 23, 1986 at Westminster Abbey - five years after Diana Spencer married Prince Charles.

Both Fergie and Andrew were 26 when they walked down the aisle.

The bridal attendants leaving Westminster Abbey
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Who was in the bridal party?

Bridesmaids included Zara Phillips (aged five) - Princess Anne's daughter and therefore the niece of Prince Andrew.

Zara’s brother Peter Phillips (aged eight), was a page boy, as was another of Andrew's nephews, Prince William (aged four).

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie, conducted the wedding ceremony and Prince Edward acted as Andrew's best man.

Who attended the Royal Wedding?

Members of foreign royal families and US First Lady Nancy Reagan were among the guests at the wedding.

Other famous names included Sir Michael Caine, Sir Elton John and Mrs Estée Lauder.

The royal couple, the Duke and Duchess of York leave Westminster Abbey after their marriage.
PA Archive/PA Images

Who designed Sarah Ferguson’s wedding dress?

Fergie’s dress was designed by British couturier and fashion designer Lindka Cierach. It was an absolute hit with the public and press alike.

It featured a corset-style bodice, which gave the perfect hourglass shape and was embroidered with her family crest. The elaborate 17-foot train featured the letter A, for Andrew, and both the couple's initials were hidden underneath the 20-foot long veil.

Lindka Cierach even replicated the iconic Eighties gown for the wedding reception, which is now on show at Madame Tussaud’s. Each dress cost around £31,500 at the time.

Did Sarah Ferguson wear a tiara?

Fergie wore a coronet of gardenias (Andrew’s favourite flowers), which she removed after signing the marriage certificate to reveal the York tiara - a gift from the Queen.

The York tiara is a treasured family diadem and more than likely to make a comeback at Princess Eugenie’s wedding this Friday.

Sarah Ferguson Fashion - In Pictures

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Where did the newlyweds go on honeymoon?

Andrew and Sarah enjoyed a five-day honeymoon aboard the royal yacht Britannia in the Azores Islands, an archipelago in the mid-Atlantic off Portugal.

How many people watched the Royal Wedding in 1986?

Around 100,000 people gathered to watch Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's first kiss on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

The BBC reported that 500 million television viewers tuned in to watch their wedding service.

Princess Eugenie's ceremony tomorrow is also likely to attract a large audience.

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