Once among the most prominent figures within the royal family, the former couple now finds themselves navigating a quiet but complicated existence, sharing a home yet living largely separate lives.
Inside Royal Lodge — the expansive 30-room residence deep within Windsor Great Park — the atmosphere has reportedly grown tense and unsettled.
The former Duke and Duchess of York, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson, now stripped of their titles by His Majesty, are said to occupy opposite ends of the property — both in physical space and in emotional distance.
Insiders claim the pair’s once-public displays of unity have faded behind closed doors, replaced by silence, avoidance, and routines that keep them apart.
Sources say the two only encounter one another at mealtimes, where their conversations revolve around the uncertainty of what comes next. Andrew, 65, is said to wander the vast home for hours, pacing the halls, muttering to himself, and remaining far removed from the public eye. One insider noted:
“They are both spending huge amounts of time alone. Andrew rarely leaves the house and has been shuffling around the lodge, ranting and muttering.”
Meanwhile, Sarah has carved out a private escape on the grounds — a secluded bar area known as The Doghouse. There, she gathers with staff and close friends to talk through her fears, seek advice, and momentarily detach from the growing turmoil around her.
“Thankfully, Sarah still has a handful of staff who genuinely like her, and she’s leaning heavily on them for support,” a source said.
But at 66, Sarah may be on the brink of a major life change.
Although the two have been divorced for decades, they maintained an unusual domestic arrangement. Now, it appears that arrangement is nearing its end.
Andrew — who reportedly received an offer of safe and secure accommodation from Abu Dhabi’s powerful ruler, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan — is said to be preparing for a move to King Charles III’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk. This shift has left Sarah facing her own difficult housing dilemma.
Sources report she is increasingly anxious about her safety and her long-term living situation, uncertain about where she will go next. One insider shared:
“One thing Fergie really doesn’t know is where she’s going to live. For the first time in many years, though, it won’t be with Andrew.”
And now, it appears Sarah may be planning something even more drastic. Reports suggest she is preparing to leave the UK completely, with a potential relocation to Portugal already underway.
A guest suite is said to be waiting for her at her daughter Princess Eugenie’s £3.6 million oceanfront villa in Melides, owned jointly with her husband, Jack Brooksbank.
A wealthy resident of the private Costa Terra Golf and Ocean Club said, “People here are saying Fergie will be arriving sometime in January. No one knows for sure how long she’ll stay, but if she does settle here, she’ll fit perfectly into the social scene.”
Interest in Portugal among Hollywood elites has surged — stars like Madonna, Scarlett Johansson, Alicia Vikander and Michael Fassbender, and Nicole Kidman are all said to be purchasing land there.
Should Sarah choose to make the move permanent, she wouldn’t be lacking support. According to royal biographer Andrew Lownie, she still has influential allies in her circle.
Richard Branson has reportedly extended a standing invitation to stay on Necker Island, and other high-profile friends remain ready to help. Lownie also noted that Sarah had slowly been rebuilding her presence within royal circles before Andrew’s public downfall derailed everything.
Andrew’s scandal reached its height in early 2022 when he settled a civil lawsuit filed in the United States.
Virginia Giuffre had accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17, after she was allegedly trafficked to him by Jeffrey Epstein.
Though Andrew did not admit guilt, he agreed to pay a large, confidential settlement and make a contribution to Giuffre’s charity for victims.
Legal experts estimate the settlement surpassed $10 million — roughly £8 million — excluding his legal expenses.
The case renewed scrutiny of Andrew’s long association with Epstein, a convicted sex offender, and highlighted their widely reported and deeply damaging friendship.
Since then, numerous individuals — including former protection officers and diplomats — have come forward with their own accounts, adding further complication to the public’s perception of the disgraced royal.
Despite these widening rifts, one commitment remains shared between Andrew and Sarah: their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. According to a source:
“They both want to protect them as much as they can from everything that’s happening.”
Still, the two princesses now find themselves navigating a new and uncomfortable position within the royal landscape.
Despite reported offers of help from the King — including assigning a senior royal aide to provide guidance — Beatrice and Eugenie appear to be distancing themselves from both the monarchy and the shadow of their father’s scandals.
An insider claims the sisters have resisted efforts by their cousin, Prince William, to initiate a full ethics review into their financial dealings — an attempt meant to prevent any indirect links to Andrew’s controversial network.
Behind the scenes, the strain has been evident. In one emotional moment near Buckingham Palace, a professional lip reader claimed to witness Princess Beatrice telling her sister, “We’re in this together, don’t forget that.”
She reportedly cautioned Princess Eugenie that “it’s only going to get harder” and “there’s nothing we can do,” to which Eugenie allegedly responded that “everything is changing.”
With their father’s reputation in ruins and their mother preparing to leave the country, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie must now forge their own identities in a world where privilege and public scrutiny collide every day.