That's not a bad rebound! Fergie is pictured for the first time since 'devastating' split from toyboy lover as she joins Antonio Banderas at charity gala in Mexico
- Sarah Ferguson seen at press event before Starlite gala in Mexico City
- Fergie, 56, was 'inconsolable' after split from Manuel Fernandez, 47
- 'Dumped' having been introduced two years ago by a mutual friend
Philanthropic work: Sarah Ferguson with Spanish actor Antonio Banderas last night in Mexico City
The Duchess of York was last night pictured for the first time since splitting from a handsome internet entrepreneur nine years her junior.
Sarah Ferguson was seen with Spanish actor Antonio Banderas at a press event ahead of the Starlite charity gala in Mexico City, where she will be recognised for her philanthropic work.
It comes hours after the 56-year-old Duchess was said to have been ‘inconsolable’ following the split from Manuel Fernandez, with whom she had developed an ‘intense friendship’.
Scroll down for video
Last year the Mail told how Prince Andrew’s ex-wife was said by friends to be ‘head over heels’ with Mr Fernandez, 47, a frequent visitor to the £13million Swiss ski chalet she now owns with her former husband.
The couple were introduced two years ago by a mutual friend. But on Sunday friends said Mr Fernandez, who is half-Irish, half-Spanish, had ‘dumped’ the Duchess, leaving her bereft.
A friend said: ‘Manuel’s not been seen around for several weeks and apparently he finished it with her. She’s been very tearful and weepy.’
It is thought that the collapse of the relationship has hastened her recent decision to apply to become a permanent Swiss resident.
Greetings: The 56-year-old Duchess of York shakes hands with Banderas ahead of the Starlite charity gala
Explanation: Banderas listens as Fergie talks about her charity work during a press event ahead of the gala
Speech: The Duchess will be recognised at the Starlite charity gala in Mexico City for her philanthropic work
Friends said that Sarah, who has had two serious relationships since her divorce from the Queen’s son in 1996, had been hopeful that her relationship with Mr Fernandez would stay the course.
The pair had seemed inseparable for much of last year, enjoying holidays to Cannes and Asturias and attending Bob Geldof’s wedding together in September.
The dashing former soldier was said to be a steadying influence on Fergie, although one source close to him insisted that the duchess was always ‘far keener on him than he was on her’.
Fergie, as she is known to her friends, is also said to have greatly admired his determined public campaign following a devastating personal tragedy that first brought him to public attention.
Line up: Actress Mar Saura (left) joins Fergie, Banderas and Starlite founder Sandra Garcia-Sanjuan (right)
Venue: The Starlite festival has taken place in Marbella for the past five years but has now moved to Mexico
Admission: Fergie recently said in an interview that any man taking her out 'would have to take on an awful lot'
In December 2008 his sister, Maria Stubbings, 50, was strangled by her ex-boyfriend who had been released from prison in Germany just months earlier after serving 15 years of a life sentence for the murder of another girlfriend.
Essex Police, who were aware of his conviction, were accused of a catalogue of failings over the case and after a public battle by Mr Fernandez and his family.
A spokesman for the Duchess said at the weekend: ‘They’ve always just been friends and continue to be so.’
In a recent interview Fergie said: ‘I think any man who took me out would have to take on an awful lot. There’s the public scrutiny, a mad family – the Fergusons, I mean, not the other family – and two granddaughters of Her Majesty.
Group photo: Fergie and Banderas are pictured with Starlite founder Sandra Garcia-Sanjuan in Mexico City
Sad: Fergie (left, pictured yesterday) was said to have been ‘inconsolable’ following her split from Manuel Fernandez (right), with whom she had developed an ‘intense friendship’
‘It’d be nice to have someone who loved me so much it didn’t matter. There must be someone out there who’s nuts.’
Starlite is a music festival that has taken place in Marbella for the past five years but has now moved across the Atlantic to Mexico, where it is taking place at the Hipodromo de las Américas.
Among the performers this year are singer Enrique Iglesias, and last night's gala - which was hosted by 55-year-old Banderas - supports the Starlite Foundation children’s charity.
The Duchess saw her Sarah Ferguson Foundation charity close four years ago, but she also founded the Children In Crisis charity in 1993, and remains the life president.
Desperado actor Banderas is currently dating Dutch investment consultant Nicole Kimpel, 35.
- Watch moment would-be robber enters elevator with woman
- WARNING GRAPHIC: Woman performs a sex act on waiter as a tip
- Horrifying footage of husband's sickening abuse of model...
- Heartachingly cute friendship between labrador and tiny...
- Dad blocks baseball bat from hitting son in face in Florida
- Moment woman steps between dog and cop ready to shoot it
- Naked dancing woman shuts down Houston Highway 290
- The moment Clipper Race crew discovers dead sailor in yacht
- Princess Charlotte and Prince George in the snow in the Alps
- Dashcam video of shots fired at an officer, before car chase
- Maria Sharapova announces she failed drug test at Australian...
- Israeli police pursue Palestinian suspected of stabbing 10
- Revealed: William and Kate's 'top secret' skiing holiday...
- President Obama SNUBS Nancy Reagan's funeral so he can speak...
- You've still got a great body Kim, but if you’re really so...
- Hero woman shoots her stalker in the throat after desperate...
- 'It started with a slap on the face': Sickening footage...
- EXCLUSIVE: Jennifer Garner says she and Ben Affleck still...
- Drug which could destroy Maria Sharapova’s career is only...
- Dancing With the Stars cast revealed: Geraldo Rivera, Kim...
- Pictured: The Afghanistan and Iraq war vet, 28, from Texas,...
- Woman brings traffic on Houston highway to a standstill for...
- The swan that died for a photograph: Tourist kills a bird by...
- Woman who acted as human shield between armed cop and her...