How did Sarah Ferguson know Lisa Marie Presley? Duchess of York speaks at Graceland funeral in Memphis

To the outside world, Sarah Ferguson may have cut an incongruous figure at the funeral service for Lisa Marie Presley, but the pair reportedly have known each for many years.

They reportedly first met when Lisa Marie Presley lived in Sussex in the UK with her ex-husband Michael Lockwood in 2010, and retained their closeness even when Lisa Marie moved back to the States.

When the Duchess reportedly was going through ‘difficult times’ particularly when she was caught up in the ‘Fake Sheik’ scandal, Lisa Marie was said to have reached out and supported her.

According to reports, Lisa Marie Presley’s actress daughter Riley Keough is also said to be close to Sarah Ferguson’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

Lisa Marie and Sarah Ferguson are said to have spoken on the phone frequently and Lisa Marie reportedly stayed at the Duchess’s villa in Marbella when her ex-husband Michael Jackson died.

The Duchess of York took to the stand to pay tribute to Lisa Marie Presley on the front lawn at Graceland Mansion in Memphis, Tennessee.

Sky News reported on the event and revealed what Sarah Ferguson said. “We need to stoke our flames within to celebrate the extraordinary Lisa Marie. I stand here with great honour because we called each other Sissy. I’ve been here with you for all your lives and I stand here with great honour. So Sissy, this is for you with affection.”

Sarah Fergson then brought in an anecdote about the late Queen and said: “My later mother-in-law used to say ‘That nothing can be said, can begin to take away the anguish and the pain of these moments because grief is the price we pay for love,’ and how right she was.”

Towards the end of her speech, Sarah Ferguson revealed her support for Lisa Marie’s family and said: “Action is the way we can go forward, we can light the flame. So for Riley, for Harper and Finley and the entire family, we march forward in support of you.”

Earlier in the week, Sarah Ferguson had taken to Instagram to share a photograph of her and Lisa Marie together and to talk about their special friendship.

In the caption below the photograph, she said: “I say hello to you everyday and I love you my sissy and I will continue to say hello to you everyday.”