Royal author Andrew Lownie has asserted that Sarah Ferguson's longstanding claim that her marriage to Prince Andrew was positive and happy served as a 'convenient cover' to generate favorable media attention. According to Lownie, the couple, who married in 1986 and divorced a decade later in 1996, were engaged in extramarital affairs shortly after their wedding.
Marriage Timeline and Public Persona
Sarah, now 66, and Andrew, who have lost their royal titles due to recent scandals, wed just months after their engagement and a little over a year after meeting. Despite their short-lived union, both have consistently spoken positively about each other. Sarah famously referred to them as the 'happiest divorced couple' just a few years ago.
However, Lownie told The Daily Mail: 'It had been a convenient cover and helped generate positive media headlines but the reality is the couple very quickly after their wedding were having affairs.' He added that Ferguson continued to live at Royal Lodge with Andrew to save money and maintain royal connections for her business ventures.
Living Arrangements and Recent Changes
Until late last year, Sarah and Andrew shared Royal Lodge in Windsor, a 30-room mansion that allowed them separate spaces. This arrangement was believed to suit both. However, after being embroiled in scandals and losing Royal Lodge this year, the divorced couple no longer cohabitate, ending the narrative of being the 'happiest divorced couple.'
Lownie's comments shed new light on the dynamics of their relationship, suggesting that the public image of amicability was partly a strategic facade.
