Sarah Ferguson loses Duchess status and Royal Lodge home as Prince Andrew is stripped of titles over Jeffrey Epstein scandal links
LONDON: Sarah Ferguson will share the loss of titles and their family home following King Charles III’s decision to remove all honours from her ex-husband Prince Andrew.
The former Duchess of York had rebuilt her reputation as a media personality and author after her 1996 divorce while maintaining an unusually close relationship with Andrew.
She consistently described themselves as the world’s best divorced couple while living together at his Windsor estate mansion and supporting him through numerous scandals.
Ferguson lost her duchess status earlier in October when Andrew relinquished his Duke of York title amid renewed scrutiny of his connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The king’s Thursday decision to strip Andrew’s remaining titles and evict him from his 30-room Royal Lodge residence represents another significant blow to Ferguson’s standing.
Her own actions contributed to this downfall through a recently revealed 2011 email where she praised Epstein as a steadfast and generous friend three years after his conviction.
Multiple UK charities severed ties with the 66-year-old following the email’s publication despite her previous denials of any Epstein involvement.
Ferguson must now find alternative accommodation while Andrew relocates to a private house within the king’s Sandringham estate.
The Times reported Andrew only agreed to leave Royal Lodge after learning Ferguson planned to move out first.
The former duchess has openly discussed financial struggles since her divorce despite receiving a settlement.
She claimed Epstein’s £15,000 loan was meant for debt repayment and was filmed in 2010 offering access to Andrew for money.
Their daughters Beatrice and Eugenie appear protected from the worst consequences as non-working royals retaining princess titles.
Buckingham Palace confirmed both women would keep their royal status despite their father’s disgrace.
Andrew’s biographer Andrew Lownie suggested the daughters’ positions were used as leverage to secure Andrew’s cooperation with the king’s demands.
The royal family likely indicated that concessions were necessary for Beatrice and Eugenie to maintain their royal family future.
Attention also turns to the late Queen Elizabeth II’s corgis entrusted to Andrew and Ferguson after her September 2022 death.
Ferguson previously claimed the queen communicated with her through the dogs Muick and Sandy every morning.
Palace sources confirmed the corgis would remain with the family despite the impending separation.
Uncertainty surrounds which household will ultimately care for the dogs when Andrew and Ferguson establish separate residences. – AFP
