Princess Beatrice attended the funeral of Paddy McNally, her mother Sarah Ferguson's former partner, in Wiltshire. McNally, an 88-year-old Formula One advertising mogul, died on July 22 following a long illness. It remains unknown if Sarah Ferguson was present at the service held at St James' Church in Sevenhampton.
McNally, who amassed an estimated £600 million fortune, had a three-year affair with Ferguson that ended in 1985. He continued to support the former Duchess of York for years. Their children, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, reportedly enjoyed holidays at his properties during their childhood.
Ferguson, 66, was last publicly seen in April at a ski resort in Austria. She has reduced her public engagements in recent months, partly due to scrutiny over her past association with Jeffrey Epstein. McNally's death occurred two months after the passing of his son, Sean.
McNally built his fortune through his involvement in setting up the Formula One Paddock Club. At one point, he was ranked as the 238th richest man in Britain. He owned several properties, including chalets in Verbier, Switzerland, and a estate in Wiltshire.
Sources suggest McNally, who was a widower before his relationship with Ferguson and never remarried, may have left her a financial provision. Some speculate this could be an allowance rather than a lump sum, given Ferguson's past spending habits. An associate mentioned that McNally was fiercely loyal to Ferguson throughout her scandals and had allowed her to stay at his Swiss chalet recently.
Ferguson has reportedly described McNally as a "father figure" and "mentor," and is said to be devastated by his death. Royal commentators have suggested that a financial settlement from McNally could help Ferguson address her financial issues and potentially aid her in rebuilding her public image.
Princess Beatrice appeared solemn at the service, dressed in black. 
