Royal family warming to duchess of York

ABERDEEN, Scotland, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Sarah Ferguson, duchess of York, appears to have gained support among Britain's royal family based on a recent meeting in Scotland, a source says.

The unidentified source said the duchess was invited to stay at Balmoral Castle in the Scottish council area of Aberdeenshire by Queen Elizabeth II, who later also asked her fellow royal to extend her stay at the royal locale, The Mail on Sunday reported.

The source said Ferguson, who previously was not openly accepted by the royal family, to discuss her daughters, Beatrice, 20, and Eugenie, 18.

"Sarah is very keen that the girls should live normal lives but she would definitely back them carrying out charity work in an official capacity," the source told the Mail.

An unidentified aide to the royal family said Saturday that Ferguson and her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, allegedly once agreed that their children would be active royal family members.

"Sarah and Andrew always intended it to be the case that Beatrice and Eugenie would have a royal role," the aide maintained.