Sarah, Duchess of York turned 60 on 15th October 2019 - the third big celebration in only a few short weeks for the York family and their fans.
First, in mid September we had the wonderful news of the engagement of Princess Beatrice and Edo Mapelli Mozzi. Then, just 3 days before the Duchess' birthday, we had the first wedding anniversary of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank. Finally it was this landmark birthday, and a chance to celebrate and pay tribute to a lady who means a great deal to so many of us!
In this article I'd like to focus on the run up to the Duchess' birthday, the day itself, and the days afterwards. It was a busy time for her, with several important events and interviews. I'll also take a look at how friends, family and fans marked the occasion.
I'll start 6 days prior to her birthday, on 9th October, when a fascinating interview appeared in the Daily Mail:
In the interview Sarah made a brave admission, giving full details on all of the cosmetic procedures she had over the last few years. These included a laser face lift, a thread lift, organic fillers, botox and vitamin injections. Her trusted medical professional for all this work is Dr. Gabriela Mercik.
It was an interesting decision to tell all so close to her birthday. The Duchess was no doubt aware the media outlets would analyse her looks over the years and speculate on her youthful appearance. Nonetheless it was also a courageous decision to admit that, yes, she needs a little help to keep looking so fabulous! In today's society, female celebrities are judged so harshly on their appearance , and the pressure is always on to look your best. Above all, what's clear is that the Duchess has successfully kept ageing at bay, whilst also keeping a natural look and preserving the expressiveness of her face, which is such a big part of her charismatic personality! She looks not just beautiful, but naturally beautiful!
The next day, we saw the first of three big events attended by the Duchess over a busy birthday period, and also the first of three birthday cakes! She was at Claridges for an afternoon tea hosted by Hello! Magazine to raise money for Sarah's charity, Street Child. One of the photos from this event (see above) was later used in her replies to fans who had sent birthday cards!
As for the event itself, Sarah attended with her daughter Princess Eugenie, and other guests included TV presenters Saira Khan and Rachel Riley, and Made in Chelsea star Binky Felstead and her mother Jane.
The tea was billed as a mother-daughter event, and Sarah was clearly delighted to have Eugenie supporting her, especially considering the Princess' busy schedule. She told Hello! magazine: "she's such a hardworking girl but has taken time off for Mum today. She loves to support Street Child, and as a family we support each other".
After a champagne reception, guests enjoyed an afternoon tea which culminated in the presentation of a special birthday cake for Sarah (see below), as guests sang "Happy Birthday" and gave her a standing ovation!
In the Hello! interview, the Duchess talked of her positivity and optimism around her upcoming birthday ("I think it's really important that my life if beginning at 60, I'm so excited by it") and her joy at Princess Beatrice's engagement. She also gave one of my all-time favourite quotes from her - a beautiful encapsulation of the pride she feels for her daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and also of the values that define the York family:
"I am the luckiest woman alive to have two extraordinary girls who work so hard in their charity work. They are the best examples of what true, proper ambassadors for life should be. They are desperately humble and so kind, genuinely love and enjoy life and I believe it's because we all work so hard at good mothering, being good girls and talking about everything. Both the Duke and I stand very firmly on familyhood and we really believe in the integrity of goodness, and they are the best examples of that."
Later that evening she attended the "Discover Film" party at the Ivy Club, where she was presented with another birthday treat - a special dessert with a candle (see picture below)!
On 15th October 2019, the big day arrived and birthday messages from friends and family were posted on social media, including a message from the Duke of York on Twitter, and this absolutely beautiful message from Princess Eugenie on her Instagram: "To my beautiful Mumma - Happy 60th birthday! You are an inspiration and one of the people I admire most in this world. Thank you for being you. I love you to the moon and back."
The Duchess' loyal and hard-working PA, Antonia Marshall wrote, "Happy Birthday @SarahTheDuchess, I hope you have a wonderful day xxx" and posted this beautiful picture:
Hundreds of fans and supporters from across the world took to Twitter to honour their beloved Duchess. In her home country of England, Jo Kisaw (@KittyKisaw) tweeted a beautiful message: "HAPPY 60th BIRTHDAY to the beautiful, courageous Duchess of York. My absolute favourite Royal and I simply adore you, Have a wonderful wonderful day xxx". In Ireland (ancestral home of Sarah's mother's family), Neil Fox (@NeilGerardFox) said: "Happy 60th Birthday Sarah our very own Duchess of #CORK one of most interesting, kind, enthusiastic people I've ever known. Lots of love from your Dublin pal xxx". In Australia, BourneNaturalBeauty (@BourneNatural) enthused: "I have always loved Fergie. She is stunning and beautiful inside and out. What an inspiration to women everywhere. Happy birthday to the Duchess". Another beautiful message came from Maria (@bofyork), who is a devoted supporter of Princess Beatrice. She wrote: "Wishing @SarahTheDuchess the happiest of birthdays today. She is an incredible women and an amazing mother to her two gorgeous daughters".
Many of Sarah's fans had chosen to mark her birthday with a special donation to her charity, Street Child, a gesture which the organisation acknowledged in a tweet: "Today we wish our founder patron @SarahTheDuchess a very happy birthday. Thank you to everyone who has donated to Street Child to mark this special day!" I was one of those people, and it seems such an appropriate way to honour this compassionate lady who gives so much of herself for others!
By early afternoon, Sarah herself had taken to social media to thank us all for our good wishes: "Thank you all for the birthday messages! This is one of the highlights of my life", she said, alongside the above picture, showing her presenting an award to Sir David Attenborough. How fascinating that from such an eventful life, she chose to focus on this moment as a highlight! And what a special tribute to the legendary TV naturalist!
That evening there was a party at Royal Lodge, the first York social event at which Princess Beatrice and Edo Mapelli Mozzi appeared as an engaged couple. Of course the Duke of York, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank were also there to celebrate, alongside 100 lucky guests. The famous faces included singers Ellie Golding, a close friend of Sarah and her daughters (in fact the three York ladies had attended her wedding a couple of months before) and Robbie Williams, who had previously been a guest at Princess Eugenie's wedding to Jack Brooksbank. Downton Abbey creator & writer Julian Fellowes, another famous York family friend, also joined the celebrations.
According to a source quoted in the Sun, "Sarah was in top form and was clearly moved that so many good friends had turned up for the bash.” Her favourite Laurent Perrier pink champagne “flowed like water”, apparently. When the disco started later on, the Princesses and their respective partners were first on the dance floor, and guests danced till the early hours. No word on the birthday cake but there must have been one - cake number two!
For many of us, the day after a huge birthday party might be a day to take it easy - to chill out at home and nurse a hangover... But not for the Duchess of York! On the 16th came the third big event- and the third birthday cake!
She was back at Claridge's for this event, and this time the charity benefiting from her generous support was Lady Garden, a foundation set up by her close friend, the socialite Tamara Beckwith, which raises money and awareness for gynaecological cancer.
There were several other celebrities present, including Katherine Jenkins, Dame Joan Collins, Sally Wood (wife of Rolling Stone Ronnie) and Samantha Cameron, wife of the former PM and founder of the Cefinn fashion label, which is a favourite with the Duchess. In the picture below are (L-R) Jenny Halpern Prince, Sally Wood, the Duchess of York, Katherine Jenkins, Dame Joan Collins and Tamara Beckwith
She looked absolutely stunning, in a full-length black dress with beaded details and ruffles, with a beautiful diamond necklace and earrings. And here was Sarah's third birthday cake, although as the picture shows, there were actually two, complete with sparklers!
For me, Sarah's attendance at this event, just a day after her birthday, says a lot about her commitment, both to charitable causes and to her friends, as this foundation means a lot to Tamara. It also says a lot about her energy, enthusiasm and lust for life! She may be 60 but she still charges through life with an energetic schedule that many people half her age would struggle with. Nevertheless, because of her commitment to meditation and to living in the moment, I don't think she finds that pace of life stressful, as others might in her position.
For all the many people who had sent her cards and presents, there was still something else to look forward to over the next few weeks - her replies! The Duchess is always so conscientious and generous about writing back to everyone who shows her kindness and support. She sent a heartfelt signed message and a beautiful photo of herself that had been taken outside the Street Child event the week prior to her birthday!
Look back over this birthday period, we saw many of the special qualities people admire in Sarah. We saw her love and loyalty for her family and friends, and her strong commitment to good causes. We saw her openness and honesty about her own life, with her brave admission to cosmetic procedures. We saw her drive, energy and passion for life over that birthday period, and on the day itself, we saw her humility, with her tweets turning attention away from herself and towards her own hero, Sir David Attenborough. In the weeks afterwards, we saw her kind, considerate and gracious attitude to the fans who look up to her, giving us something special to treasure.
At 60, she is moving forward with her passion undiminished, stunningly beautiful - still determined to live life, to have fun, to lead with kindness and compassion, and to make a difference!
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