Once seen as two of the most recognizable figures within the royal family, the former couple now finds themselves living in a kind of quiet turmoil — together, yet increasingly apart.
Inside Royal Lodge, the expansive 30-room residence tucked inside Windsor Great Park, the atmosphere has reportedly become more strained and unstable by the day.
The estate, long home to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson — formerly the Duke and Duchess of York until His Majesty removed their titles — is now split not only by distance but by emotion. They occupy opposite ends of the property, both literally and figuratively.
According to those close to the situation, any semblance of unity the two once displayed publicly has faded behind closed doors. Their interactions are said to be marked by silence, distance, and separate daily routines.
Reports indicate that they see each other mainly at mealtimes, where conversations revolve around the uncertain road ahead. Andrew, now 65, is said to spend most of his days pacing the long halls of the home, muttering under his breath and living increasingly out of sight of the outside world. One insider said:
“They both spend large amounts of time alone. Andrew rarely leaves and has been wandering the lodge, ranting and mumbling to himself.”
Meanwhile, Sarah has created her own sanctuary at the rear of the property — a private bar area known as The Doghouse. It is there, insiders say, where she regularly gathers with friends and trusted staff to talk about her worries, seek reassurance, and momentarily escape the weight of reality.
“Fortunately, Sarah still has several staff who genuinely care about her, and she’s relying heavily on them for support,” a source explained.
But at 66, Sarah may be on the verge of a major change.
Although no longer married, she and Andrew have lived in a highly unusual domestic arrangement for years. That arrangement now appears to be nearing its end.
Andrew — who reportedly received an offer of secure accommodation from Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi — is said to be preparing to relocate to King Charles III’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk. This has left Sarah facing her own uncertainty.
Sources say she has raised concerns about her personal safety and her future living situation, describing her as anxious and unsettled about what comes next. As one insider put it:
“One thing Fergie truly doesn’t know is where she’ll live. But for the first time in many years, it won’t be with Andrew.”
And now, it seems that Sarah may be planning an even more dramatic shift. Reports indicate she is preparing to leave the UK entirely, with a possible move to Portugal already underway.
A guest room is reportedly waiting for her at a £3.6 million oceanfront home in Melides, belonging to her daughter Princess Eugenie and son-in-law Jack Brooksbank.
A wealthy resident of the exclusive Costa Terra Golf and Ocean Club said, “The talk here is that Fergie will be arriving sometime in January. No one knows how long she’ll stay, but if she ends up settling here, she’ll fit right into the social crowd.”
Hollywood celebrities — including Madonna, Scarlett Johansson, Alicia Vikander and Michael Fassbender, and Nicole Kidman — are also said to be purchasing property in Portugal.
And if Sarah does choose to stay long term, she’ll have no shortage of support. Royal historian Andrew Lownie has claimed she still has influential allies in her circle.
Richard Branson is said to have extended her an open invitation to stay on Necker Island, and other friends remain ready to assist her. Lownie added that Sarah had even begun slowly restoring her standing in royal circles before Andrew’s downfall halted her progress.
Andrew’s scandal reached its peak in early 2022, when he settled a civil lawsuit filed in the United States.
Virginia Giuffre alleged that he sexually assaulted her at age 17 after she was trafficked to him by Jeffrey Epstein.
The settlement included no admission of guilt, but Andrew agreed to pay a large undisclosed amount and contribute to Giuffre’s charity supporting victims’ rights.
Legal analysts estimate the total financial cost exceeded $10 million — around £8 million — not including his legal fees.
The case renewed scrutiny of Andrew’s longstanding association with Epstein, a convicted sex offender, and brought public attention to what had long been a controversial relationship.
In the aftermath, numerous individuals — from former security officers to diplomats — have reportedly stepped forward with their own accounts, deepening the public’s negative view of the disgraced royal.
Despite the widening emotional gap between Andrew and Sarah, the two remain united in one area — their dedication to their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. As one insider said:
“They both want to shield the girls as much as they can from everything going on.”
Still, the controversy around their parents has reportedly forced the princesses into an unfamiliar and uncomfortable position within the royal structure.
Even with the King offering assistance — including assigning a senior royal aide to help provide guidance — Beatrice and Eugenie appear to be distancing themselves from both the monarchy and the shadow of their father’s scandal.
An insider claimed the sisters have resisted Prince William’s efforts to conduct a formal ethics review of their financial dealings, an attempt meant to avoid any indirect ties to Andrew’s controversial connections.
Behind the scenes, the tension has been evident. In one emotional exchange near Buckingham Palace, a professional lip reader reported that Princess Beatrice told her sister, “We’re in this together, don’t forget that.”
She allegedly warned Eugenie that “it’s only going to get harder” and “we can’t do anything,” to which Eugenie reportedly replied that “everything is changing.”
With their father’s reputation in ruins and their mother preparing for a new life abroad, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie now face the challenge of shaping their own futures in a world where privilege and scrutiny collide every day.