Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough John chose Sarah over Catherine Sedley, but both John's and Sarah's families disapproved of the match, therefore they married secretly in the winter of 1677–78. John and Sarah were both Protestants in a predominantly Catholic court, a circumstance that would influence their political allegiances. Although no date was recorded, the marriage was announced only to the Duchess of York, and a small circle of friends, so that Sarah could keep her court position as Maid of Honour. When Sarah became pregnant, her marriage was announced publicly (on 1 October 1678), and she retired from the court to give birth to
Sarah, Duchess of York That Looked at a King", with Sarah's voice in the role of the Queen; the story is derived from the "Mary Poppins" books by P. L. Travers. Sarah also made a cameo in the American television sitcom "Friends" in 1998. Sarah had a producing role (credited as "Sarah Ferguson") in the 2009 Jean-Marc Vallée film "The Young Victoria", starring Emily Blunt and featured a background player role for Sarah's daughter Princess Beatrice. It was Sarah who conceived the idea for a film based upon the early years of Queen Victoria. She had been interested in the queen since her marriage