Sarah Ferguson recalls how she was meant to be in the Twin Towers on 9/11 but missed the attacks as she was running late – as she pays tribute to those who were killed

Sarah Ferguson has revealed she should have been at the Twin Towers the day they were hit by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

At that time, the royal, 36, had an office on the 101st floor of the North Tower for her charity Chances for Children – her mascot for the charity, a small rag doll – was located in that office.

She was going to the World Trade Center, but was late, following a late interview.

The Duchess of York took to Instagram Stories yesterday to explain how she should have been in the New York building at the time of the attacks and to pay tribute to those who lost their lives.

In the first of three posts, she shared a photo of firefighters in the rubble. Sitting in the rubble, we can see a small doll: the Little Red Doll, the mascot of Sarah’s charity.

The royal took to Instagram Stories to pay tribute to those killed in the 2001 attacks.

Superimposed on the image, the text read: “My charity Chances for Children was located on Tower N of the World Trade Center.

“I was supposed to be there that morning 22 years ago, but an interview came up late. The Little Red doll, the association’s mascot, was found in the rubble. Today I think of those who lost their lives.

A second story featured a photograph of the doll, accompanied by the words: “The original Little Red is at the Ground Zero Museum. We remember today and always. I want to send the families love and strength.

Sarah has previously spoken about how close she was to the building when it was hit by planes.

She described it as a near-death experience, saying being so close to being caught up in the attack gave her a greater appreciation for life.

Speaking in 2018 at Good morning!the mother-of-two said: “I take every minute as a blessing, I really do, and I work really hard at it.

Because the moment you look too far, you now miss. Once you look back, you can’t go back. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

After the collapse of the Twin Towers, Little Red was found among the rubble by photographers and was initially mistaken for a child’s doll.

According to Sarah, she was supposed to be in her office in the North Tower when the attacks took place, but she was late.

Speaking to the BBC in 2014, Sarah said: “And when it came on TV I looked and I saw Little Red and the presenter said, ‘Oh look, there’s a doll child! » and I immediately called the presenter and said please don’t worry.

“Because I was so afraid that they would think a child was lost or buried in the rubble.

“So I said no, it’s not a child’s doll, it’s Little Red and she’s a symbol of Chances for Children.”

The original mascot is now part of the 9/11 commemorative exhibit at Ground Zero, and Sarah went on to write a series of books based on the character.

Sarah said on Instagram that the mascot (pictured) is now part of the 9/11 commemorative exhibit at Ground Zero.

A decade after the terrorist attack, Sarah floated the idea of ​​a children’s book based on the atrocities which was rejected by publishers who feared Americans would find it offensive.

The Duchess of York, 51, sent publishers a preview of the 32-page book, The Little Pear Tree, in 2011, following the story of a tree that survived the attack.

She told them she planned to present a copy to President Barack Obama at the opening of the Ground Zero Museum in New York in September of that year.

But a source said at the time: “The Duchess has asked those close to her to contact at least three publishers, but none have shown any interest because Americans view works of fiction about 9/11 as insulting.”

A pear tree near the Twin Towers had its branches torn off during the attack. The workers brought it back to life as a symbol of hope.