For years, she lived a life most people could only imagine. Now, she is described by insiders as vulnerable, financially strained, and effectively without a permanent home. Once comfortably settled at Royal Lodge, she no longer has access to that grand residence. She cannot remain there, cannot move in with her former husband, and has no clear base of her own.
For two decades, Sarah Ferguson resided in Royal Lodge, a sprawling 30-room mansion tucked within the grounds of Windsor Castle. The estate, steeped in royal history and once home to the Queen Mother, stands as one of the most prestigious properties in Britain. Her accommodation there was effectively covered under arrangements tied to the Crown, giving her a lifestyle of privilege long after her 1996 divorce from Prince Andrew.
Despite the end of their marriage, Ferguson returned to live with Andrew around 2008. Their explanation centered on co-parenting their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. Ferguson often referred to the trio as a “Tripod,” portraying their unconventional arrangement as supportive and harmonious. To the public, it appeared unusual but functional: a divorced couple sharing a grand royal residence for the sake of family unity.
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Royal Lodge itself was no modest dwelling. Located deep within Windsor Great Park, it offered privacy, manicured grounds, and a distinguished past. Andrew had secured a 75-year lease at a nominal rent, allowing him to remain there at minimal cost. For years, the arrangement drew little formal objection, even as controversies gathered around him.
Trouble intensified with Andrew’s association with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Concerns first escalated in 2010 when photographs surfaced showing Andrew visiting Epstein after Epstein had served time for soliciting a minor. The issue reignited in 2019 following Andrew’s widely criticized interview on Newsnight, where his explanations failed to quell public skepticism. Throughout these storms, Ferguson stood publicly by his side, defending him and maintaining her residence at Royal Lodge.
Everything shifted dramatically in late 2025. On October 30, King Charles III initiated formal steps to strip Andrew of his remaining royal titles and privileges. The palace announcement was brief but decisive: Andrew would lose his HRH status and surrender his lease on Royal Lodge. He was instructed to vacate the property. Ferguson’s name was absent from the statement, and no alternative housing was offered to her.
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The timing coincided with renewed scrutiny surrounding the Epstein investigation. Newly released documents from the U.S. Department of Justice reportedly contained correspondence that cast Ferguson’s past relationship with Epstein in a troubling light. Emails suggested a relationship more extensive than she had previously acknowledged, contradicting her earlier claim that the connection had been a singular mistake.
Royal commentator Emily Maitlis later suggested that pressure to remove Andrew from Royal Lodge may have extended beyond the King, hinting at family tensions behind closed doors. Whether or not that account was fully accurate, the outcome was clear: Andrew and Ferguson faced a firm deadline to leave their long-time home.
The months that followed were marked by delay and uncertainty. Andrew reportedly had temporary accommodation arranged at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate. Ferguson, however, had sold her £4.25 million London townhouse earlier in 2025, leaving her without a permanent residence. Her daughters could offer only short-term stays—Beatrice in the Cotswolds and Eugenie dividing her time between Portugal and Kensington Palace—but neither option provided lasting security.
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Meanwhile, Ferguson’s professional life unraveled. Several of her business ventures closed, and her charity operations were suspended. Organizations she had supported distanced themselves quietly. Her public reputation, already fragile, suffered further damage as details from the Epstein files circulated.
Reports indicated that her final confirmed sighting at Royal Lodge was in September 2025. After that, she disappeared from public view. There were no farewell events, no official statements marking her departure. When Andrew finally left Royal Lodge on February 3, 2026, he did so quietly, relocating to Wood Farm with little ceremony. Insiders described the move as hurried and subdued. Notably, Ferguson was not present at the end.
Matters escalated further on February 19, 2026, when Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Thames Valley Police detained him for questioning before releasing him without charge, pending further investigation. The arrest marked an unprecedented moment in modern royal history, intensifying scrutiny around the family.
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At the time, Ferguson was reportedly abroad, having traveled to the Middle East. She was seen at an art fair in Doha, Qatar, where Eugenie was working professionally. Her absence from the UK during Andrew’s legal difficulties fueled speculation about her circumstances and future.
By spring 2026, Ferguson’s situation appeared starkly different from her years at Royal Lodge. She no longer had access to royal housing, had relinquished her former London property, and faced diminished public standing. Once known widely as the Duchess of York, she now confronted an uncertain path forward at 66 years old.
Her loyalty to Andrew, once portrayed as steadfast devotion, has carried significant personal cost. She has lost her longtime home, her formal role within royal life, and much of her professional platform. Whether she will attempt a public comeback or retreat permanently from the spotlight remains unclear. What is certain is that her journey from the grandeur of Royal Lodge to a life marked by uncertainty stands as one of the most dramatic reversals in recent royal memory.
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