Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
SARAH Ferguson has not been invited to the King’s Coronation despite stay-away Meghan leaving a spare seat in the Abbey.
The Duchess of York, 63, is expected to watch the event on TV at Royal Lodge, which she shares with disgraced ex Prince Andrew.
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Royal author Phil Dampier said: “She cannot expect to be at the top of the royal pecking order.”
The Sun understands Fergie has been told she is not among the 2,000 guests despite knowing Charles since childhood.
She is joined on the sidelines by Prince Harry’s wife Meghan who is staying in the US for son Archie’s fourth birthday.
Harry and Andrew will both attend the Coronation though neither will have a formal role.
Royal sources insist there is no ill-will towards Fergie.
But the snub has puzzled insiders given she was at the Queen’s funeral in September, and spent her first Christmas in 30 years with the royals at Sandringham.
Her and Andrew’s daughters, princesses Eugenie, 33, and Beatrice, 34, are expected to be at the Westminster Abbey ceremony on May 6.
Royal author Phil Dampier said: “I’m sure Fergie will be disappointed but she has had many years of ups and downs in her relationship with the Royal Family, and I’m sure she will accept it.
“The Queen had a soft spot for Fergie and Charles was generous in inviting her to Christmas. But on a formal occasion he probably feels a line has to be drawn.
“Space is limited and some hard decisions have had to be made.
“The fact is Fergie and Prince Andrew split up more than 30 years ago so she cannot expect to be at the top of the royal pecking order.”
Fergie claims to have known Charles and Camilla as a child and mixed in royal circles before meeting Andrew and marrying in 1986.
The couple separated and in 1992 photos emerged of Fergie having her toes kissed by her financial adviser John Bryan.
Outraged Prince Philip banished her from Balmoral and Sandringham whenever he was present and she finally divorced in 1996.
Last month, after the Palace revealed the design of the Coronation invites, Fergie confessed she did not expect to be a guest.
In comments which could also have been aimed at Harry and Meghan, she said: “You can’t sit on the fence and keep one foot in and one out.
“Don’t cry about not being invited to weddings. You chose to leave, now go and live it — and be it.”
Sarah moved into Royal Lodge with Andrew ten years after their divorce. And in 2010 he bailed her out paying off £1.5million debts.
She supported the Duke after he was accused of abusing Jeffrey Epstein sex slave Virginia Giuffre. Andrew settled out of court and has always denied Ms Giuffre’s claims.
He and Fergie are set to leave the lodge this summer after Charles stripped royal funding and taxpayer-funded police protection.
They could be moved nearby to Harry and Meghan’s home, Frogmore Cottage.
Fergie’s spokesman and the Palace did not comment on the invite snub.