Sarah Ferguson allegedly turned down a generous gift from the late Queen Elizabeth II because she was anxious about the financial implications, reports have claimed. The former Duchess of York, who has faced scrutiny following her association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, reportedly rejected the offer of a £1.5 million Georgian property in Surrey.
Background of the Gift
Ms Ferguson married Prince Andrew in 1986, but the couple divorced in 1992. One year later, the Queen gifted the seven-bedroom Birchhall estate to her granddaughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, amid the chaos of the separation. However, Ferguson turned down the offer, fearing she could not afford its upkeep, and continued living at Sunninghill Park until 2006.
Insider Claims
A source told Radar Online: “Sarah quickly realised that accepting a grand Georgian estate and actually being able to sustain it were two completely different things. Behind closed doors, she was said to be genuinely anxious about taking on a house that could end up draining her financially and becoming a constant source of stress rather than stability.”
The revelation adds to the ongoing saga surrounding the Royal Family, with Ferguson’s past decisions coming under renewed scrutiny.
