Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, has reportedly 'abandoned' her ex-husband Prince Andrew as his reputation continues to unravel in the wake of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, according to a prominent royal biographer.
The Royal Exile and a Megxit Parallel
Andrew Lownie, author of an explosive biography on the Yorks, has drawn stark comparisons between Fergie's current situation and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's dramatic exit from royal life in 2020. Lownie claims that Fergie is now set to 'do her own thing' following their imminent eviction from Royal Lodge, their long-time Windsor residence.
Rumours are swirling that the Duchess is contemplating a move abroad, with Portugal being a potential destination. This is where her daughter, Princess Eugenie, and her husband Jack Brooksbank own a £3.6 million oceanfront mansion, purchased in May 2022, and reside for half of the year.
Mounting Pressure and a Damning Email
The decision to strip the couple of their royal titles and remove them from Royal Lodge is seen as a direct result of public pressure on King Charles to take disciplinary action. Lownie explained the situation by stating, "There is a contract between the people and the monarchy. They get respect when they serve us well. When they behave in ways seen as self-serving, they’re in trouble."
Fergie's own fall from grace was exacerbated when a 2011 email she sent to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein resurfaced. In the correspondence, she referred to the billionaire paedophile as a "supreme friend", despite having publicly denounced him.
A Relationship Under Strain
The apparent separation in paths for the once-inseparable ex-couple speaks volumes about the status of their relationship. Royal expert Jennie Bond expressed her surprise, telling the Mirror: "I thought they were joined at the hip, even though no longer in a romantic relationship. Sarah has always been so fiercely loyal to Andrew... Perhaps she no longer believes him, or perhaps Andrew now wants to be on his own."
While Portugal is a possibility, Lownie suggested that Fergie's dramatic exit could see her relocate to Switzerland or lie low somewhere in London before making a return to public life. He concluded, "Fergie's abandoned him, he's lost his attraction, now he's no longer in Royal Lodge and a Prince. And she's gonna do her own thing. She's kind of gonna it's a bit like Meghan and Harry, lots and lots of parallels there."
