Fergie back in the fold CAMILLA'S ROYAL PARDON

After butting heads for the past 37 years, the Queen Consort's decided it's time to bury the hatchet

- Judy Kean

They’re not the most likely of allies. Despite having some things in common – like being ostracised by the royal family for many years – Camilla, Queen Consort and Sarah, Duchess of York seem to be poles apart.

Camilla is now one of the highest-ranking members of the The Firm, while Fergie still remains something of an outcast. But the duchess’ status could be about to change thanks to the kindness of the King’s wife.

Camilla, 75, has been responsible for helping to bring Fergie, 63, back into the royal fold, despite the fact her husband the King supposedly “can’t stand” his former sister-in-law.

“The recent thawing of relations with Sarah is due to the Queen Consort,” says an aide. “Camilla likes Sarah. She thinks it’s time for her to come in from the cold.”

Evidence of this was Fergie’s presence at the recent Christmas celebrations at Sandringham. Prince Andrew’s ex-wife not only sat down with the rest of the family for Christmas lunch, but joined the traditional Boxing Day shoot on the Norfolk estate. That hasn’t happened since she and Andrew separated in 1992, although they remain very close and live together at his home Royal Lodge, on the Windsor estate.

It was Prince Philip who made Fergie persona non grata, describing her as “that vulgar woman” after she was photographed having her toes sucked by her financial advisor back in 1992.