Royal expert Ingrid Seward has revealed that Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, once referred to her ex-husband Prince Andrew as 'husband' long after their divorce, indicating that she is unlikely to sever ties with him despite the ongoing fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
Fergie's Enduring Bond with Andrew
The couple, who divorced in 1996, were once described as the 'happiest divorced couple in the world,' continuing to share their former home, Royal Lodge, for years. However, their relationship has become strained since the full extent of their association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein came to light. Andrew was forced to vacate Royal Lodge in favour of the much smaller Marsh Farm on the Sandringham estate, while Ferguson has not moved with him and was last seen at an Austrian ski resort after going into hiding when the Epstein files were released.
Despite their apparent separation, Seward believes the pair remain in contact. Recalling a past encounter, she said: 'I remember on one occasion a long time ago I was with her and [Andrew] rang up and she stood up and said, "Hello husband." He wasn't really her husband at that point as they had separated, but that's how they've always seen each other.'
Fergie as a 'Go-Between'
Seward suggested that Ferguson may be acting as a 'go-between' for Andrew and their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. 'Beatrice has always been close to Andrew, Eugenie less so,' she noted. 'Beatrice has the King on her side, he's very fond of her. She's more studious and considerate maybe, whereas one might say Eugenie is more fun. That's how it used to be anyway; Eugenie gets on with her life and she likes to be around fun people and doesn't bear grudges.'
Financial Concerns and Future Plans
Rumours persist that Ferguson might consider a tell-all book or major TV interview to secure financial stability. However, Seward claims the former Duchess is all too aware of the potential consequences. 'If she does a book or a tell-all interview, she will be cutting herself off from everyone and potentially ruining her children's lives, which is one thing she would not do,' Seward explained. 'I'm sure they're telling her to keep quiet and lie low.'
Despite her financial challenges, Seward expressed confidence in Ferguson's resilience. 'She has an incredible knack of finding people to look after her. She lands on her feet, but she's often fought hard to do so, so I think she will be okay in the long-run.'
As for public appearances, Seward predicted: 'I don't think we'll see her popping up at Royal Ascot or anything; she won't be that blatant and will stay under the radar for a bit. But she will need to emerge and live her life again at some point. At the moment, everyone wants to know where she is, who she's with and what she's doing. She's a sort of hunted woman; there's almost a price on her head.'
