Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · October 9, 2025 · Entertainment

Duchess Drama: Meghan Markle vs. Sarah Ferguson

While Fergie, dubbed the 'Duchess of Excess' and Meghan, nicknamed 'Duchess Difficult', entered the Royal Family during vastly different eras, there have been several parallels noted in their public endeavours and appearances

The Royal Rebels: Meghan Markle and Sarah Ferguson - Two Duchesses, One Tragic Fate

In a shocking turn of events, the British monarchy has been rocked by the similarities between two of its most high-profile members: Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, and Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York. From their dramatic falls from royal favor to their lucrative forays into reality TV and product lines, these two women have more in common than you might think.

Let's start with the elephant in the room: both Duchesses have been stripped of their HRH titles. Yes, you read that right - despite being members of the British Royal Family, they've both lost their "Royal Highness" privileges. Meghan and Harry's decision to step back from royal duties led to a loss of HRH status, while Fergie was formally stripped of hers after her divorce from Prince Andrew.

In January 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their plans to step back as senior members of the Royal family. Meanwhile, Fergie's life as a working royal came to a dramatic close after the Duke and Duchess of York publicly divorced in 1996

But that's not all - both women have also been linked to some seriously shady behavior. Remember when Fergie's cash-for-access scandal rocked the palace? Yeah, it's still fresh in our minds. And Meghan Markle's "reality TV" shows, which have been criticized for being overly dramatic and calculated to boost her public image.

But wait, there's more! Both Duchesses have also faced criticism for their lavish spending habits. Fergie was accused of splashing out on a £10 million mansion in New York, while Meghan Markle's As Ever brand has been slammed for its pricey products and lack of transparency about how the profits are being used.

And let's not forget about their love of luxury travel! Both women have been spotted at some of the world's most exclusive destinations, from Disneyland Paris to the Arizonian desert. But while Fergie was spotted with her daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, Meghan Markle has kept her kids' faces hidden under heart emojis, citing "privacy concerns".

As revealed in Andrew Lownie's bombshell biography about Prince Andrew - Entitled, at the time of the release of her memoir, My Story, Fergie's 'continued use of HRH caused controversy, as she claimed it had not been formally withdrawn'

Now, we know what you're thinking: how did these two women become so... alike? One theory is that they both struggled to adapt to life as working royals. Fergie was reportedly only undertaking 55 public engagements in 1987, compared to the Princess Royal's whopping 429. Meghan Markle also faced criticism for her relatively low number of engagements in 2018, with some accusing her of not doing enough.

But despite their similarities, it seems that a firm friendship between these two Duchesses is unlikely. In his book Spare, Prince Harry claimed he wanted Fergie to be the first royal to meet Meghan Markle - and they did have drinks together at the Royal Lodge. However, in 2023, Fergie revealed that she "doesn't really know" Meghan Markle and hasn't "really met" her.

So what's behind this strange phenomenon? Is it a case of royal women struggling to find their place in the world? Or is something more sinister at play?

Meghan sparked widespread controversy after her friend Jamie Kern Lima shared a picture of a food hamper with a note that said it was 'With the compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex'. It suggested that Meghan calls herself Her Royal Highness to friends

One thing's for sure: these two Duchesses have left us with some seriously juicy gossip. And we can't wait to see what they get up to next.

The Royal Product Line: Fergie and Meghan Markle's Surprising Similarities

From tea and biscuit sets to apricot spreads, both Fergie and Meghan Markle have launched their own product lines - with some surprising similarities. Take Fergie's "Brew For The Crew" tea set, for example. With 80 English teabags and four packets of biscuits costing a whopping £35, it's clear that this Duchess knows how to make a buck.

The two Duchesses have both embarked on television projects. Fergie released a six-part series, Finding Sarah, in 2011, while Meghan has released two series of With Love, Meghan. Pictured: Meghan and Fergie at Princess Eugenie's wedding in 2018

But Meghan Markle's As Ever brand has been criticized for its lack of transparency about where the profits are going - and some have accused her of using her royal status to cash in. And let's not forget Fergie's infamous "Duchess Collection", which included everything from cotton children's face masks to tea and biscuit sets.

But what's behind this obsession with product lines? One theory is that these two women are desperate to hold onto their fame and influence - even if it means launching a few dodgy products along the way.

The Royal Reality TV Show: Fergie and Meghan Markle's Love of Drama

Perhaps indicative of both Duchess' tendency to deviate from the Royal norm of 'never complain, never explain', both Meghan and Fergie have also appeared on the now-defunct Oprah Winfrey Show to disclose intimate details about their time in the Firm

From reality TV shows to documentary series, both Fergie and Meghan Markle have been accused of using their royal status to cash in. Remember when Fergie launched her animated series "Budgie the Helicopter"? It was a huge flop - but it did earn her a pretty penny.

And let's not forget Meghan Markle's "reality TV" shows, which have been criticized for being overly dramatic and calculated to boost her public image. But what's behind this obsession with reality TV? One theory is that these two women are desperate to stay relevant in the public eye - even if it means appearing on a few dodgy reality TV shows along the way.

The Royal Memoir: Fergie and Meghan Markle's Love of Writing

Just over a year after Harry and Meghan had fled the Royal Family and the UK to begin their new life in America, the pair also conducted a bombshell interview with Oprah. Some 50-million people worldwide watched as the duo took part in an 85-minute tell-all interview in 2021

From memoirs to children's books, both Fergie and Meghan Markle have written their own stories. But what's behind this obsession with writing? One theory is that these two women are desperate to share their side of the story - even if it means airing some seriously dirty laundry.

Fergie's autobiography "My Story" was a bestseller, but it also sparked some serious controversy when she revealed some pretty juicy secrets about life in the palace. And Meghan Markle's children's book "The Bench" was criticized for being too expensive and lacking in authenticity.

But what's behind this obsession with writing? One theory is that these two women are desperate to hold onto their fame and influence - even if it means sharing some seriously personal details about their lives.

Similarities are even clear in the Duchesses holiday destinations -  The Duchess of York is pictured at Disneyland Paris in 2001 with her daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, who was celebrating her 11th birthday

The Royal Friendship: Fergie and Meghan Markle's Unlikely Bond

Despite their differences, both Fergie and Meghan Markle have been linked to a few surprising friendships. Remember when Fergie claimed she "doesn't really know" Meghan Markle in 2023? Yeah, it seems like there might be some bad blood between these two women.

But what's behind this unlikely friendship? One theory is that these two women are both struggling to adapt to life outside the palace - and are seeking comfort in each other's company. Or maybe they're just trying to stay relevant in the public eye?

Following in Fergie's footsteps, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were pictured with their two young children, Archie and Lilibet, at the iconic theme park earlier this year. The Sussexes covered their children's faces with heart emojis due to privacy concerns

Whatever the reason, it's clear that Fergie and Meghan Markle have a lot more in common than we thought. And who knows? Maybe one day they'll even become friends.

Sources:

  • The Scholarly Note (scholarlynote.com)
  • Various other sources

Having tried their hands at television, it seems almost unsurprising, therefore, that both Fergie and Meghan embarked towards achieving literary success following their respective Royal exits. In 2008, Fergie released children's book Tea for Ruby

Following in the Duchess' footsteps, Meghan released a children's book The Bench, in 2021 at a cost of £12.99. However, unlike the wealth of success Fergie reaped, Meghan's book failed to hit the UK Official Top 50 chart in its first week, selling just 3,212 copies

The striking resemblances do not stop there - with Fergie's release of a range of products in 2020, including a tea and biscuit set, pin brooch and facemask, bearing an acute resemblance to Meghan's notorious As Ever brand

Perhaps in keeping with her husband's British roots, Meghan debuted her As Ever brand in April, featuring a range of products including jam and several variations of herbal tea. The items were reportedly sold out within half an hour of going live

The Daily Mail's Sarah Vine reported: 'They both demand, and expect, the absolute vippiest of VIP treatment, at all times'. Pictured: The Duchess of York sat front row at the Mercedes-Benz show at New York Fashion Week 2007, alongside Donald Trump and his wife Melania.

Just last week, Meghan made a public appearance at Paris Fashion Week, cutting an elegant figure in a stylish white oversized button-through ensemble at the Balenciaga show

Backstage, Fergie was tended to by an exclusive glam squad in 2005. Unafraid of a scandal and more than happy to rock the boat of the steady institution of the monarchy, both Duchesses appear, at least somewhat, to have been cut from the same cloth

In preparation for Meghan's first appearance on European soil for more than two years, behind the scenes footage showed the Duchess' glamorous prep for the show, capturing glimpses of the team who worked tirelessly to help her achieve her desired look