Yahoo News Piers Morgan claims Sarah Ferguson sent supportive text message after Meghan interview row
Watch: Piers Morgan says members of the Royal Family have thanked him
Piers Morgan has claimed Sarah Ferguson, former wife of Prince Andrew, offered him support after he left Good Morning Britain following controversial comments about Meghan Markle.
The day after Meghan and Prince Harry's explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey aired in the US, Morgan said on GMB that he did not believe her claims about life inside the Royal Family.
The 56-year-old later clarified that he could not know if Meghan had felt suicidal but that he didn't believe she was not offered help.
The comments led to thousands of complaints to Ofcom and ITV, including one from the Duchess of Sussex herself, and an on-air row between Morgan and GMB weather presenters Alex Beresford that ended with Morgan storming off-set.
Morgan left the show shortly afterwards. Last week he claimed he'd had "some messages communicated to me on behalf of several members of the Royal Family" offering support.
He told presenter Billy Bush on US TV show Extra: "I’m not going to go into who it was. But what I would say is, gratitude that somebody was standing up."
However he then went on to share in his Mail On Sunday weekly diary that Ferguson had sent him a message on Friday to offer her support.
He wrote: "Not all Royal duchesses were as thrilled as Meghan ‘Pinocchio’ Markle to see me leave GMB.
"'People have said how much they miss your morning joy and humour,' texted Sarah, Duchess of York, 'get back out there!'
"Perhaps we should start a new breakfast show together… 'Morgy and Fergie in the Morning', anyone?"
Watch: Harry 'back in the UK' ahead of Duke of Edinburgh's funeral on Saturday
It's not clear if the Duchess of York is the only person who has offered her support from the family, as the message was said to have been sent on 9 April, and Morgan claimed the other messages were relayed earlier in the week.
Meghan, 39, is said to be friends with Princess Eugenie, Ferguson's younger daughter, and also mentioned Ferguson in the Winfrey interview.
Recalling her first meeting with the Queen, Meghan said it was Ferguson who taught her how to curtsy just moments before Her Majesty arrived, as Meghan had not known she had to greet her that way in private.
Ferguson has also previously defended Meghan, saying in 2019: "It must be hard for Meghan, and I can relate to her.
"I believe [Meghan] is modern and fabulous."
She added at the time: "I tend not to give advice because it is taken out of context, but I have been in Meghan’s shoes, and I still am."
Prince Harry returned to the UK on Monday morning ahead of the funeral of Prince Philip on Saturday, 17 April.
The Duke of Sussex, 36, will have to quarantine when he arrives but will be allowed out for the funeral on compassionate grounds.
It was confirmed on Monday that he would be at Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor estate, which was given to him and his wife Meghan as a wedding gift.
It is understood Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank have been living there with their son August.
Watch: Why UK TV Host Piers Morgan Left Good Morning Britain
