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Queen Invites Fergie "The Times" June 14, 2000

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Jun 14, 2000, 3:00:00 AM6/14/00
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June 14 2000 BRITAIN


Queen thaws and invites duchess to family party
BY ALAN HAMILTON


The Duchess of York agreeing with a point made by a patient's mother
after opening a cancer ward for teenagers at the Queen Elizabeth
Hospital, Birmingham, yesterday
Photograph: RUI VIEIRA ©

IN A gesture of conciliation, the Queen has invited the Duchess of York
to join 500 guests at a major Royal Family party at Windsor Castle next
week.

The duchess's office confirmed yesterday that she will join her former
husband, Princess Beatrice, 11, and Princess Eugenie, 10, at the
gathering to mark four significant royal birthdays: Queen Elizabeth the
Queen Mother's 100th, Princess Margaret's 70th, the Princess Royal's
50th and the Duke of York's 40th.

The party also coincides with Prince William's 18th birthday, but he is
not expected to attend as he is taking A levels at Eton, and will have
a separate function later.

It is the first time that the duchess has been included on the guest
list for a Royal Family occasion since she attended the funeral of the
late Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997. Since then she has been largely
ostracised, but she has often spent Christmas in a cottage on the
Sandringham estate.

The Duke and duchess continue to live with their children in the
Berkshire house built for them as a wedding present from the Queen.
They also take family holidays together.

Reports that Camilla Parker Bowles may also attend the party are still
unconfirmed, and Buckingham Palace refused to comment on the guest list
for what is being regarded as a private family occasion.

Ten days ago the Queen broke the thick ice covering Mrs Parker Bowles's
relationship with the Prince of Wales when she attended a barbecue at
Highgrove for the birthday of the former King Constantine of Greece, at
which Mrs Parker Bowles was present.

It was the first time the women had met since the Prince's divorce, and
was seen as an important move towards Mrs Parker Bowles's acceptance as
the Prince's companion. But the Queen's gesture is seen as one of
acceptance rather than approval.

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