Sarah Ferguson's Austrian Hideaway: Royal Expert Claims She Hasn't Abandoned Andrew
Sarah Ferguson might have been spotted hiding out in Austria to avoid the Epstein scandal, but a prominent royal expert claims there is absolutely no chance that Sarah has abandoned Prince Andrew for good. The former duchess and the Duke of York have gone their separate ways for the first time in years, yet they might not be as estranged as the public believes.
A Discreet Austrian Retreat
When Ferguson was seen in an unnamed Austrian village last week, it marked the first sighting of the former duchess in over 200 days. Clearly attempting to go unnoticed, she was photographed with her distinctive red hair tucked inside a baseball cap as she exited a blacked-out car outside a luxurious ski chalet. Reports indicate the chalet costs approximately £2,000 per night.
Until February of this year, Sarah and Andrew shared the same residence, Royal Lodge. However, when King Charles forced his younger brother out of the lavish Windsor mansion due to Andrew's connection to the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, the Duke relocated to a more modest property on the Sandringham Estate. It was subsequently revealed that Ferguson would not be making the move with him.
Despite being divorced for decades, the pair have always remained exceptionally close, with Sarah long serving as her ex-husband's most vocal and fierce defender.
Andrew's Legal Troubles and Sarah's Disappearance
Prince Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office on his 66th birthday, February 19. He was released pending further investigation while properties in Berkshire and Norfolk were searched. Since then, he has been holed up in Norfolk, barely venturing outside—reportedly on the orders of his elder brother, King Charles. He has been seen answering the door in his dressing gown to receive his weekly supermarket delivery. For months, Ferguson has been conspicuously absent.
"She's been laying false breadcrumbs to stop people following her trail, and very few people were allowed in on the secret," a source told the Mirror. "But she's seen Andrew arrested and read all the headlines about the Epstein investigations and knows it's a very grave situation."
Connections to the Epstein Scandal
Mountbatten-Windsor has faced—and consistently denied—allegations that he had sex with Epstein trafficking victim Virginia Giuffre when she was 17 years old. For Ferguson's part, emails released by the US Congress as part of the so-called Epstein Files appear to show her begging the late sex offender for financial assistance and offering him her support, despite having publicly denounced him.
But despite their individual battles and the evident public distance between them, one royal expert suggests that behind the scenes, the reality is likely quite different. Duncan Larcombe, author of 'Prince Harry: The Inside Story' and former royal editor of The Sun, provides a compelling analysis.
"My personal hunch is that it's a public relations move," Larcombe states. "I don't think she's any nearer ditching Andrew than she ever was, and her links to Epstein might have been different from Andrew's, but they were still strong. So, in other words, it would be pretty... hypocritical if she just said, 'oh, how dare you be friends with a man like that' when clearly she's been a friend of a man like that."
The Contrast in Social Support
Larcombe notes how friends seem willing to stand by Ferguson and help her hide out, often providing free accommodation, in stark contrast to the treatment of Andrew, from whom everyone appears to be keeping a wide berth.
"It's interesting because you have to think of her ex-husband, Andrew, who it looks like the world and his wife are distancing themselves from," he observes. "I think it's quite interesting to see that she's still got wealthy friends that are prepared to step into the breach and help her out, and I think that's what these pictures expose more than anything. She had links to Epstein. She took money off Epstein. There are still huge question marks hanging over her head when it comes to her friendship with Epstein, and yet once again she seems to be the freebie queen."
Feelings of Abandonment and Fear
A friend of Sarah's has confirmed to the Mirror that pals have been 'helping her' during the ongoing scandal and that she feels somewhat 'abandoned' by the House of Windsor. None of the royals are said to have contacted her since King Charles stripped Andrew and Sarah of their royal titles and styles last autumn.
"Sarah is living in fear right now. She's not immune to everything that is happening. She realises how serious everything is, and she is not coping with it," the friend revealed. "She is definitely worried about returning home to the UK and is relying on the kindness of friends to help her through the situation. But she knows she can't keep moving around forever. Sarah feels she has been abandoned by the Royal Family and has been treated very unfairly. She is at a complete loss over what to do."
Ongoing Legal Pressures
Both Andrew and Sarah have been called upon to testify before the US House Oversight Committee regarding their knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein and his activities. However, as neither are US citizens, they are under no legal obligation to respond to the request or appear to give evidence. This leaves their involvement and testimony entirely voluntary, adding another layer of complexity to an already fraught situation.
The saga continues to unfold, with Sarah Ferguson's Austrian hideaway symbolising the physical and emotional distance created by the scandal, yet expert analysis suggests the bond with Prince Andrew remains unbroken beneath the surface.
