Sarah Ferguson's reported invitation to spend Christmas at Sandringham with the royals is a "masterstroke" by King Charles, a royal expert has said.
It is believed that Fergie has been invited to spend her first festive season in 30 years with her ex-husband Prince Andrew and his royal relatives in just a few weeks' time.
According to a Sandringham source, five-bedroom farmhouse Wood Farm is being prepared for the couple who will also reportedly be joined by their daughters Princess Beatrice, 34 and Princess Eugenie, 32 - with their own husbands and young children.
It is understood Fergie was banned from attending family gatherings after she was caught on camera having her toes sucked by financial adviser John Bryan.
And according to Ingrid Seward, a royal biographer and editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, the invitation comes as Charles is not "unkind".
She told the Mirror: "Fergie is no stranger to Wood Farm. She has spent several lonely Christmases there when Andrew and the children would have lunch at the 'big house'.
" Prince Philip was furious with her for heaping scandal onto the family. He told the Queen that if Fergie appeared he was leaving.
"Always the mediator, the Queen offered Fergie Wood Farm so she could be with her girls while Andrew stayed with the rest of the royal family. It worked but Fergie felt like a complete outcast.
"Now for the first time since the nineties, they will all be able to be at Sandringham together.
"It is a master stroke by King Charles. Andrew will be tucked out of sight with Fergie to look after him.
"They can visit the big house, use the amenities of the estate and have a jolly Christmas with their grandchildren – all out of sight.
"King Charles is not an unkind person. He has been through the emotional mill himself.
"There were many times Camilla had to hide away like a fugitive so he understands Andrew’s situation only too well.
"But he is King and the current custodian of the royal image. He cannot risk it being tarnished by Andrew. And he will not allow it to happen."
On Fergie's possible attendance at the royals' Christmas this year, a Sandringham source told The Sun : "Andrew is banned from public life but you can't ban him from family Christmas.
"Staff at Sandringham have been tasked with getting Wood Farm ready for the whole York family.
"For 30 years she used to have Christmas dinner on her own. But things are being done differently now."
