But, a furious Princess Margaret then sent the flowers straight back to Fergie along with a scathing note, a recently unearthed clip from 1997 reveals.
Judy Wade, writer and royal journalist, says in the documentary Fergie, Downfall of the Duchess: "The Duchess of York had sent flowers to Princess Margaret with a little note, no doubt trying to renew their once good friendship and the flowers had been sent straight back with a note from Princess Margaret saying ‘how dare you send me flowers, have you ever considered what damage you have done to the Royal Family?’
"And I thought that was the worst example of a pot calling a kettle black in history because in the 50s and 60s Princess Margaret was notorious for her behaviour, it was totally out of keeping with her position."
“So I think Princess Margaret was cruelly unfair to do such a thing when it was a kind gesture from Sarah, very well intentioned, and i think that indicates exactly how the Royal Family treats somebody who steps out of line, except if they’re born royal.”
Allan Starkie, author of Fergie, Her Secret Life, said: “Over the years, the Duchess was convinced that the Queen was hoping the Duchess’ fight against this bureaucracy that had taken over the monarchy would be a successful one.
“The Duchess began to get the feeling that the Queen was a prisoner in her own family, secretly rooting for Fergie to be this new light, that kind of cleared up all this darkness.”