London, August 4 (ANI): Sarah, The Duchess of York, has reportedly declined an invitation to join the Royal Family at the memorial service for Princess Diana.

Sources close to Fergie say that her rejection of the event, to be held on August 31, was "very straightforward" as she has never felt welcome at the recent royal events.

Despite having a close relationship with the Queen, Fergie has not been on a royal guest list for some years due to the ongoing rift between her and the rest of the family.

"She has not been on a royal guest list for some years and it has been made clear that the family do not want her to attend royal events," the Daily Mail quoted a source, as saying.

The Duchess's daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will be attending the function with their father, Prince Andrew.

The last major royal event the Duchess attended was the Queen Mother's funeral at Westminster Abbey in April 2002 when she was forced to sit apart from her children and not join the rest of the royal party.

Close friends said that Fergie had been made to feel like an outsider for long and would have felt "uncomfortable" marking the occasion with the Royal Family.

"Fergie's point is that she has not been embraced by the Royal Family in recent years. She has been excluded from many family events and it makes her feel uncomfortable on such occasions," a friend said.

"She understands that and it made it easier for her to come to the decision to stay away. Even though she was one of Diana's closest friends within the Royal Family, she has turned down the invitation. he was grateful to be asked, but feels it would not be right to go to it," the friend added. (ANI)