Miscalculated

Fergie commemorated Queen with wrong year

Duchess Sarah Ferguson remembered the late Queen Elizabeth II's birthday but got the number wrong. 

The Duchess posted a lovely tribute to her former mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away in September 2022, on Instagram on Sunday.

"You are sorely missed"
Accompanying a well-known photo of the Queen smiling at the camera in a bright purple outfit, Fergie wrote: "Today we remember Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on her 97th birthday. Thank you for all you taught us, for being a steadfast leader and dear friend. You are sorely missed."

Miscalculated
However, Prince Andrew's ex-wife miscalculated in her post. Queen Elizabeth would have been 98 years old on April 21, 2024.

Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, 2022 at the age of 96 during her summer stay at Balmoral Castle in Scotland after seven decades on the throne. Upon her death, her son Charles automatically became King. 

The royal family and the Prince and Princess of Wales refrained from commemorating the Queen's birthday on Sunday - at least until later in the afternoon. 

Charles suffering from cancer in Scotland
Her eldest son, the reigning King Charles III, was diagnosed with cancer in February and has to undergo treatment.

He attended a service at Crathie Kirk near Balmoral on Sunday with his wife, Queen Camilla. The royal couple have been in Scotland since the beginning of April and also celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary there on April 9. Presumably the King also wanted to spend his mother's birthday at her favorite home. 

Prince William's wife Princess Kate was also diagnosed with cancer in February, shortly after Charles. She has withdrawn from the public eye until further notice in order to devote herself fully to her recovery and undergo preventative chemotherapy. 

Sarah Ferguson battled cancer twice last year. In June 2023, she had a breast removed after being diagnosed with breast cancer during a routine check-up. In January 2024, she was diagnosed with black skin cancer, which was successfully treated.