Sarah Ferguson has returned to the UK and remains in contact with her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, according to her spokesperson. The former Duchess of York, who left the country last year after being caught up in the Epstein scandal, is now settling back into family life.
She went to ground following the release of millions of documents about convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein by US authorities, which shed new light on her association with him. Just last week, she was pictured in London for the first time in more than a year, attending a memorial service with her daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, for close friend Paddy McNally.
Spokesperson confirms relocation plans
Her spokesperson told PEOPLE that since returning to the UK, she has been spending time with her daughters and five grandchildren. They said: “She’s resettling here, lying low while she looks at the next stage. She’s happy spending time with her family and focusing on her relocation. She is embracing her family life and seeing her grandchildren.”
It is unclear whether she has seen Prince Andrew, who now lives on the Sandringham estate, in person, but it is understood the two are in contact. The spokesperson added: “They have an ongoing cordial and supportive relationship as co-parents and co-grandparents.”
Epstein scandal aftermath
The Epstein scandal hit Ferguson in September 2025 when it emerged that she wrote to the convicted sex offender, calling him a “supreme friend” despite publicly disowning him, prompting a string of charities to drop her as a patron. In documents released in January, Ferguson appeared to say to Epstein in an email: “I am at your service. Just marry me.”
Prince Andrew was stripped of his titles by the King because of “serious lapses of judgment” over his friendship with Epstein. The pair had lived together at Royal Lodge in Windsor for years after their divorce but are now living apart after the ex-prince was forced out of the property.
Ferguson also lost her courtesy royal divorcee title and reverted to her maiden name, and lost the freedom of the city of York after councillors voted unanimously to remove the honour over her links to Epstein.
Ongoing police investigation
Last week, it emerged that detectives are investigating the time the ex-prince, Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell spent at the King’s private estate in Scotland. Police Scotland said it had received “information” and a probe is at a “very early stage” into the time the disgraced royal spent with Epstein at Balmoral. The Daily Express reported the inquiries relate to claims that women were trafficked to the estate.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on February 19, his 66th birthday, following allegations that he shared sensitive information with Epstein during his time as the UK’s trade envoy. He was interviewed under caution before being released under investigation, and denies wrongdoing, with the police probe ongoing.
