Fergie and Prince Charles' love scandal explodes

For years they were rumoured to be sworn enemies, but behind the scenes Prince Charles and Sarah Ferguson have been hiding a close friendship that goes back many years. But even more sensationally, a royal insider has revealed to New Idea that the pair were once romantically involved.

‘Fergie and Charles were incredibly close before her relationship with Prince Andrew started, and it’s been a closely-guarded secret for decades that they had a wild fling,’ says the source.

In fact, the former brother and sister-in-law were so fond of each other that if circumstances had been different, they could have made a perfect royal couple.

‘The truth is that Fergie is absolutely someone Charles could have married.

‘He’s always loved her cheekiness and fun, and back in the day she really reminded him of Camilla – a woman he wasn’t allowed to marry.’

Sarah and Charles had known each other for most of their lives when they had a short fling before the Prince of Wales met Lady Diana Spencer and got engaged in 1981.

In fact, Sarah’s father Major Ronald Ferguson played polo on a team alongside Charles in the 1970s – and had worked as his polo manager – so their paths crossed frequently.