What Sarah Ferguson Was Really Like Before She Married Prince Andrew and Became a Duchess

Sarah Margaret Ferguson was born on October 15, 1959 in London to Susan and Major Ronald Ferguson. From a young age, Fergie became really fond of horses. In her book, My Story: Sarah the Duchess of York, she described herself as a "tough little monkey" and was taught at an early age by her father to "get outside, get muddy, and, most of all, to get on with it." She goes on to explain that they lived a comfortable life despite not being considered aristocracy.

Although she was not considered royal herself, Sarah came from a privileged background and had several ties to the throne. She is related to four dukes and "at least three mistresses of Charles II." VanityFair.com reports that her distant cousin, Robert Fellowes, became the Queen's private secretary in 1990 after serving on her staff beginning in 1977. More directly, her father served as the manager of the elite Guards Polo Club, which meant he and Prince Philip were familiar with one another.

Despite living a comfortable lifestyle, Sarah's parents were struggling in their marriage. The two officially got divorced in 1974. Susan went on to marry Argentinian polo player Hector Barrantes. From then on, Fergie and her older sister, Jane, stayed with their father and grew up on a family farm in Hampshire. Two years later, Fergie's father found love and married Susan Deptford and had three more kids — Andrew, Alice, and Elizabeth.

As Sarah got older, she attended Hurst Lodge School in Ascot. There, she was described as "excelling at swimming and tennis, rather less so at academic achievement." Later, she enrolled in a secretarial college in London. Fergie revealed on a Swedish television show that when she was 18, one of her first jobs involved cleaning toilets and mirrors. She also took up waitressing in a strudel house throughout the 1970s before landing a job at a graphics firm. Of course, Sarah wasn't the only royal to have a "normal" job before becoming royalty. Princess Diana, who was Lady Diana Spencer at the time, spent the '70s as a kindergarten teacher before meeting Prince Charles in 1977.

Speaking of the People's Princess, by the time 1980 hit, Sarah and Diana were quickly becoming friends. Although TownandCountry.com reports that the two had known of each other since adolescence, it wasn't until Sarah's early 20s that they started to become close. The outlet also states that the two enjoyed weekly lunch dates together and that Diana would often call upon Fergie as she struggled with her new role as Princess of Wales.

As it turns out, Princess Diana played a huge part in introducing Fergie to Prince Andrew. In 1985, Diana reportedly asked the queen to extend an invite to Fergie for a "dine and sleep" event at Windsor Castle during the Royal Ascot festivities. Sarah ended up sitting next to Andrew at one dinner. Fergie noted in her book that as her and Andrew's relationship became more public, Diana was always there guiding her through the press craziness.

On March 19, 1986, Sarah and Andrew officially announced their engagement to the world after the Queen's son proposed one month prior. At the time, both expressed that they were "over the moon" with happiness. Fergie also told the Washington Post that year that she had every intention of keeping her sales job at a London graphic arts company despite taking on a new role in the British monarchy. Little did she realize she was about to take on so much more.

All throughout 1986, many more eyes began to turn to Fergie — especially as her wedding date approached. She started getting photographed going to and from work and while she vacationed in Antigua with her friends. The Duchess-to-be was seen accompanying Diana on a trip aboard Prince Andrew's ship. She even earned her private pilot's license. As if 1986 wasn't a whirlwind year enough for her already, Fergie got to attend and stand on the famous balcony of Buckingham Palace for the Queen's 60th birthday.

Although the Royal Ascot in June 1986 wasn't her first-ever appearance with the royal family, the event did mark one of her last big outings before officially becoming Her Royal Highness. There, Sarah, in formal attire in line with royal protocol, sat with Princess Michael of Kent. Leading up to her marriage, it appeared that all was well and the public was very approving of the couple.

On July 23, 1986 at Westminster Abbey, Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew tied the knot in a gorgeous ceremony. Attendees included Nancy Reagan, Elton John, and about 2,000 other lucky friends, family, and celebrities. The BBC reported at the time that an estimated 500 million people watched the nuptials worldwide while 100,000 saw it in real-time outside of Buckingham Palace. Soon after, the two promptly left London to go on their honeymoon to the Azores Islands. And after all that, Fergie began her new life as a Duchess — one filled with constant attention, royal appointments, two daughters, and important charitable work that she still continues to this day.