Sarah Ferguson has been seeking emotional refuge at a Windsor pub as she confronts the dramatic upheaval of her royal life, according to insider accounts. The former Duchess of York faces imminent eviction from her home of 22 years alongside ex-husband Prince Andrew.
Royal Upheaval: The End of an Era at Royal Lodge
King Charles III has ordered the couple to vacate Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, where they've lived together since 2008 despite divorcing in 1996. The monarch's decision includes revoking their titles through a new letters patent, forcing their relocation to Sandringham.
The dramatic changes stem from continuing fallout from Prince Andrew's association with convicted paedophile sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew has consistently denied sex allegations linked to the scandal, but the repercussions have extended to include Sarah Ferguson in the spotlight.
Emotional Toll and Secret Sanctuary
Sources reveal that Ferguson has been regularly visiting The Doghouse, a purpose-built bar behind Royal Lodge, where she pours her heart out to sympathetic staff and friends. Insiders describe her as "not in a good place" and "massively on edge" about her uncertain future.
"Sarah is spending quite a lot of evenings in The Doghouse," a source told The Sun. "She drinks in there with friends and staff to escape from what is going on in her life generally. And while she is there, she takes advice on what to do next."
The 66-year-old has been described as "panicking about what comes next" and leaning heavily on remaining staff who "really like her" for emotional support during this transitional period.
Epstein Email Controversy Compounds Crisis
Ferguson's situation worsened in September when charities dropped her as patron or ambassador after a 2011 email emerged showing she had called Epstein a "supreme friend" and appeared to apologise for past criticism.
Royal commentator Victoria Murphy told the BBC: "I think as far as Sarah is concerned, her own recent controversy involving the email she is said to have sent Epstein is what has had the biggest impact for her of late."
A spokesperson for the duchess explained the email was written "in the context of advice the duchess was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats" of a potential defamation lawsuit, while maintaining she genuinely regretted any association with the convicted sex offender.
With nothing anchoring her to Sandringham, royal observers suggest Ferguson may spend little time at the new residence, leaving her future more uncertain than ever as she navigates this profound life change away from the Windsor home she has known for decades.
