The Duchess of York has revealed how watching Helen Mirren in the acclaimed movie The Queen led to a feeling of regret over her behaviour in the wake of her split from husband Prince Andrew, and concern that she had hurt her former mother-in-law.
"I started beating myself up a bit because I started thinking, 'What a shame if I let her down in any way'," says the flame haired mother of two. Speaking to an American magazine, the former royal added: "The Queen is one of the finest ladies I've ever met in my life. I'm so honoured to be able to say we are friends. I love her. She's given up her whole life to her country. She's a great lady and a wonderful grandmother."
The 47-year-old admitted that after her divorce from Andrew she felt she had "betrayed everybody and let down the monarchy".
Fergie, who praised Helen Mirren's portrayal of the British monarch as a "great job", also revealed that the film had brought back the pain of losing Princess Diana. "I miss her, her humour," she said.