Sarah Ferguson marked her 66th birthday quietly this week, but what really caught attention wasn’t the celebration itself—it was the silence that surrounded it. The Duchess of York turned 66 on Wednesday, October 15, yet no public birthday wishes came her way, not even from her daughters, who usually shower her with warm tributes online.
Princess Eugenie, 35, is known for her affectionate posts about her mum, often sharing heartfelt messages and rare family photos. But this year, there was nothing. No Instagram story. No photo. No “Happy birthday, Mumma.” Just silence. It’s a noticeable change from last year when Eugenie wrote, “Happy birthday to my beautiful mumma. So proud of the Grannie you are, the mum you are, and the woman you are.”
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The timing couldn’t be more awkward. Ferguson’s low-key birthday came just weeks after she was dragged back into controversy over her connection to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. An old email from 2011 recently resurfaced, showing that Ferguson had referred to Epstein as her “supreme friend” following his release from prison. In the same message, she apologized for previously criticizing him in a media interview.
The revelation has sparked a fresh storm around the Duchess, who has long tried to rebuild her public image. According to her spokesperson, the email was written only because she feared Epstein might sue her for defamation. Still, the explanation hasn’t done much to quiet the renewed scrutiny or the wave of online commentary that followed.
For many royal watchers, the silence from her daughters feels significant. Eugenie and her sister Beatrice have always maintained a close bond with their mother, often defending her through years of public challenges. So, for neither of them to post a single birthday message this year has raised eyebrows and stirred speculation about whether the ongoing scandal has created tension behind the scenes.
Ferguson has kept a low profile since the email resurfaced, avoiding any public comment on the matter. Her social media pages also remained quiet on her birthday, suggesting she opted for a private celebration away from the spotlight.
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Those close to the Duchess say she’s been focusing on her health and family after a difficult couple of years, which included her treatment for skin and breast cancer. But the Epstein connection continues to shadow her reputation, threatening to undo much of the goodwill she’s built in recent years through charity work and children’s books.
While there’s no confirmation of any family rift, the lack of public acknowledgment from her daughters—especially given their past displays of affection—hasn’t gone unnoticed by fans or the media. Many royal followers have taken to social media to point out the silence, with some expressing sympathy and others suggesting it might have been a deliberate decision to avoid drawing attention to the controversy.
For now, the Duchess seems content to let the noise fade on its own. Whether the quiet birthday marks a temporary pause or a sign of deeper troubles remains to be seen.
