Sarah Ferguson , Duchess of York, wrote a poignant tribute to Lisa Marie Presley following her death on Thursday, describing their unexpected friendship. Who would have guessed Sarah Ferguson and the late Lisa Marie Presley had such a close relationship? Following the late singer’s death from cardiac arrest, much information about the artist and her relationship with Fergie became public.
Keep reading to find out more.
Fergie’s Love For Lisa Marie
The Duchess, 63, spoke of her love for Lisa Marie, whom she affectionately referred to as ‘Sissy,’ asking other mourners to stoke their flames within to honor exceptional Lisa Marie.
Mystery Friendship
Many people were probably wondering how the once-vilified former daughter-in-law of the late Queen had become friends with the somewhat more edgily cool daughter of the King of rock and roll.
However, the Daily Mail verified that little known to the outside world, their connection was not a flimsy Hollywood one but a 15-year partnership based on profound trust and support.
Making It Public After Her Death
Sarah highlighted the intensity of their friendship on Instagram just hours after her friend’s untimely death on January 12.
Fergie, 63 captioned the shot where the two hugged lovingly;
She Felt Honored To Pay Tribute At Her Funeral
According to a friend, Sarah felt honored to be asked to speak at Lisa Marie’s funeral. She didn’t hesitate.
They let her choose a piece, which she did after much deliberation, choosing George Frost’s poem for his father, Sir David Frost, with the line “It’s important to know that I have not gone, And I hope that, on you all, my light has shone,” which was particularly suitable.
They Had A Lot In Common
You are certainly wondering how they created such a strong connection over many years.
Despite their differences, they shared many similarities. Both were born into wealth. Both have been through the agony of divorce — both their parents’ and their own — and the terror of public disgrace.
They had a rowdy sense of humor and the ability to overcome failures. While both were considered brash, they also possessed a certain gaucheness and sensitivity.
Their Daughters Became Friends
In 2007, they went to a Led Zeppelin concert in London together, with Sarah, an ardent supporter of charitable causes, taking Lisa Marie the next day to London’s swish Mandarin hotel to discuss the possibility of helping ITV journalist Chris Rogers publicize his investigations into abandoned Romanian children.
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Sarah dined at The Dorchester Hotel’s China Tang restaurant with Lisa Marie’s daughter Riley, then 18 and an aspiring model, and the Duchess’s daughter Beatrice, a year Riley’s senior and reputedly her friend that same year.
They Shared Similar Romantic Experiences
Their bond must have grown stronger as they gained a mutual knowledge of broken homes. The Duchess’s mother, Susan, had gone to live in Argentina with her new partner when Sarah was a teenager, forcing her to ‘overeat for comfort.’
Lisa Marie must have felt alone as an only child because her father and mother, Priscilla, split when she was five. Four years later, she discovered her father dead on the toilet floor from a heart attack.
And, of course, they both have interesting romantic pasts. Lisa Marie married her first spouse, musician Danny Keough when she was 20 years old. Riley and her son Ben were among them. The relationship lasted six years. She married music icon Michael Jackson in 1994, but the couple separated two years later.
They Stood By Each Other’s Side Through Thick And Thin
Her third marriage lasted only 107 days, to actor Nicolas Cage. Then, in 2006, she married Michael Lockwood, the father of her 14-year-old twins Harper and Finley, from whom she eventually divorced.
Nonetheless, the Duchess would have understood. After all, she stayed so close to Andrew — whom she has characterized as “an outstanding person” — that he attended her 50th birthday party at London’s Lanesborough Hotel in 2010 alongside Geir Frantzen, the frozen food billionaire she was rumored to be dating at the time.
Lisa Marie was also present, having become a regular in the Duchess’s social circle.
Fergie Promises To Support Her Friend’s Daughters
Lisa Marie returned to America in 2016 following a contentious divorce from Lockwood, and she and Sarah maintained regular phone contact. Lisa Marie’s most heartbreaking incident was the suicide of her son Ben, who died in 2020 at the age of 27.
Although she and Sarah had kept their friendship mostly private until then, the depth of the loss prompted the Duchess to express her support on Instagram publicly.
Sarah talked of her profound passion for Riley and 14-year-old twins Finley and Harper after paying her respects to her dear ‘Sissy’ at the memorial service, offering to support them as they cope with the death of their mother.
