Princess Eugenie is reportedly preparing a guest suite in her luxurious £3.6 million oceanfront villa in Portugal for her mother, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York. This comes as Fergie is said to be considering leaving the UK amidst the ongoing turmoil following the release of the damning Jeffrey Epstein files.
A Royal Retreat in Portugal
The princess is understood to be readying the property, which she owns with her husband, businessman Jack Brooksbank, as a potential continental escape for her mother. This move would see Sarah Ferguson vacate the Royal Lodge in Windsor, the home she has shared with her ex-husband, Prince Andrew. The Duke of York is himself expected to relocate to the Sandringham estate.
Prince Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing concerning his connections to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted for sex offences. However, the renewed scrutiny has had a profound impact on those associated with him.
Pressure and a Potential Breakdown
The situation has taken a significant personal toll on the former Duchess. Royal expert Phil Dampier, who claims to have spoken with Fergie's friends, revealed the severity of her distress. "I'm told she has been on the edge of a nervous breakdown," Dampier stated. He also disclosed that her older sister, Jane, had recently flown from Australia to the UK to offer comfort and support during this difficult time.
The pressure intensified after Sarah Ferguson was dropped from several charitable roles. This followed the emergence of emails showing she had written favourably to Epstein in 2011, despite his convictions and her previous public claims to have severed all contact with him.
The Damning Email and Its Fallout
In the 2011 email, the Duchess appeared to apologise to Epstein, describing him as a "steadfast, generous and supreme friend to me and my family." These messages were sent several years after Epstein's initial 2008 conviction, creating a significant contradiction with her public statements.
A spokesperson for Sarah Ferguson later sought to explain the communication, stating that the email was sent to counter a legal threat from Epstein. The spokesperson clarified, "This email was sent in the context of advice the duchess was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats."
Despite this explanation, the revelation has severely damaged her public standing and has raised further difficult questions about the extent of Epstein's links to members of the Royal Family. The offer of a safe haven in Portugal from her daughter represents a potential lifeline as she navigates the continuing fallout from the scandal.
