Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, has secretly checked herself into the world's most expensive wellness clinic as details of her close friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein have left her emotionally shattered, according to exclusive revelations. The 66-year-old fled the United Kingdom as she and her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, became increasingly entangled in the escalating Epstein scandal, which culminated in the financier's arrest last Thursday.
Global Speculation and Swiss Sanctuary
While Prince Andrew was photographed repeatedly at Windsor and on the Sandringham estate, Ms Ferguson has not been seen in public since her brief appearance at her granddaughter Athena's Christening at St James's Palace on December 12. This absence sparked worldwide speculation about her whereabouts, with the Daily Mail now confirming that she has been sheltering at the renowned Paracelsus Recovery Clinic in Zurich, Switzerland, for much of this period.
Fergie secretly took refuge in the world-famous clinic, which charges approximately £13,000 per day, just after Christmas and remained there until the end of January. A Swiss source disclosed to the Daily Mail that Sarah always feels at home at Paracelsus, where she receives love, attention, and expert health treatment during her most vulnerable moments.
Luxury Treatment and Emotional Turmoil
The lakeside clinic offers several month-long recovery programmes tailored for ultra-wealthy clients, providing access to fifteen medical experts, a chauffeur, and a private chef. Another friend in Switzerland revealed that Ms Ferguson, a regular client at Paracelsus, was absolutely crushed by the public release of email exchanges linking her to Epstein. The friend explained that Sarah has built a strong relationship with the clinic, making it the obvious place for her to escape the overwhelming scrutiny.
Following her prolonged stay, which is thought to have lasted several weeks, the globe-trotting former royal is believed to have spent time in both the French Alps and the United Arab Emirates. The release of millions of documents from the United States Justice Department, known as the Epstein files, laid bare Ms Ferguson's entangled relationship with the disgraced financier.
Damning Email Evidence and Public Humiliation
Emails revealed that the former duchess and her beleaguered ex-husband maintained their close friendship with Epstein even after his initial conviction for sexually abusing a minor. Embarrassing correspondence showed her begging Epstein to help pay off her mounting debts, even offering to work as his housemaid due to her desperate need for cash, despite knowing he was under house arrest in Florida for child prostitution.
In another email, she issued a grovelling apology for publicly denouncing him, claiming it was only to protect her career as a children's author, and described him as a steadfast, generous, and supreme friend. The most damning evidence, however, revealed that she took her daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, to have lunch with Epstein just five days after his release from prison.
A Sanctuary Free from Judgement
It is perhaps unsurprising that Ms Ferguson turned to Paracelsus, described by its founder, Jan Gerber, as a sanctuary where individuals can receive the highest standard of care, free of judgement. The clinic specialises in treating conditions such as addiction, burnout, depression, anxiety, and trauma, and is widely regarded as the most expensive wellness facility globally.
Charging around £110,000 for a three-day comprehensive check-up or £350,000 for a fully customised one-month residential programme, Paracelsus boasts that celebrities, oligarchs, and royalty receive top-tier treatment. Clients stay in a penthouse with lake views and enjoy concierge and limousine services, along with a personal chef, butler, and on-site therapist.
Financial Questions and Promotional Ties
The costly nature of the clinic raises questions about how Ms Ferguson, who has faced various money woes over the years, could afford her stay. The former duchess recently told friends in the UAE, where she is currently residing, that she needs to get back to work and earn money. However, the fact that Ms Ferguson appears in an endorsement on the Paracelsus website, published just days ago, suggests her stay may have been complimentary.
In the endorsement, she stated that her stay showed her mental health knows no boundaries, and she has repeatedly promoted the clinic on her social media pages, including Facebook and Instagram. She emphasised the importance of breaking down stigma and silence around mental health, advocating for an environment where seeking help is seen as a strength, not a weakness.
Previous Visits and Personal Disclosures
The former duchess has visited the clinic before and was involved in its promotional work last year, appearing in a social media video with Mr Gerber. During the conversation, she described how traumatic experiences from her childhood and public life, combined with her cancer diagnosis, led her to seek mental health support. She alleged that she was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) while at the clinic.
Following the conversation in June, she wrote on Facebook about finding not only clinical excellence but deep humanity at Paracelsus. She later told the Daily Telegraph that she was not embarrassed to reveal the clinic offered her a sanctuary, particularly for those whose struggles are hidden behind the facade of a public role.
Future Plans and Middle Eastern Refuge
Since her stay, Fergie has been spending time in the UAE and, according to royal watchers, linking up with her daughter Princess Eugenie, who was in Qatar for the Art Basel fair. She is said to be lying low in Doha, Qatar, as she continues to get her head together and plot a comeback. She is understood to be scouting for a new PR team to represent her upon her return to the UK, though some friends are sceptical about her ability to restart her life there.
Royal author Andrew Lownie, who wrote a damning book on the scandal-hit couple, believes that multi-millionaires in Dubai and surrounding countries like Bahrain and Qatar are likely bankrolling Fergie already. He stated that in Britain, neither Sarah nor Andrew will be socially accepted again, but in the Middle East, no one will care about their past actions. He added that she will still be seen as royalty and treated accordingly, despite losing her title of Duchess of York.
Paracelsus Recovery in Zurich has been approached for comment, and Sarah Ferguson has also been contacted for her response to these revelations.
