Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has reportedly abandoned her ex-husband Prince Andrew amid the ongoing Epstein scandal, according to royal biographer Andrew Lownie. Lownie, author of a recent biography on the House of York, told the Express that Ferguson is distancing herself from Andrew as his public image and reputation continue to unravel.
Lownie drew parallels between Ferguson's situation and that of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, saying: '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. It's a bit like Meghan and Harry, lots and lots of parallels there.'
Rumours have emerged that Ferguson is considering relocating to Portugal, where her daughter Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank own a £3.6 million oceanfront mansion purchased in May 2022. However, Lownie suggested Switzerland or a low-key London residence as other possibilities, adding: 'I think she'll be back.'
The biographer also commented on the decision to strip Andrew and Ferguson of their royal titles and evict them from the Royal Lodge, attributing it to public pressure on King Charles. 'There is a contract between the people and the monarchy,' he said. 'They get respect when they serve us well. When they behave in ways seen as self-serving, they're in trouble.'
Ferguson's fall from grace began when an email she sent to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein in 2011 resurfaced, in which she called him a 'supreme friend' despite previously denouncing him. Royal expert Jennie Bond told the Mirror that the growing distance between Ferguson and Andrew speaks volumes about their relationship, adding: 'Perhaps she no longer believes him, or perhaps Andrew now wants to be on his own.'
