Additional Coverage:
- Sarah Ferguson prepares independent move as Prince Andrew loses royal titles and Royal Lodge lease: report (foxnews.com)
Sarah Ferguson to Forge Independent Path Amidst Royal Shake-Up
Windsor, UK – Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, is reportedly preparing for a significant life transition, as sources confirm her impending move into a separate residence, marking a definitive end to her long-standing cohabitation with ex-husband, the former Prince Andrew. This development unfolds amidst Andrew’s ongoing fallout from being stripped of his remaining royal titles by King Charles III.
For decades, Ferguson, 66, and Andrew, 65, continued to share the expansive Royal Lodge in Windsor, even after their 1996 divorce. However, a source close to Ferguson informed People that “She is going to be moving out and into a separate home.”
This move, while representing a major shift, is being characterized by those close to Ferguson as a pursuit of independence rather than a quest for royal provisions. “Contrary to reports, she has never asked for a property or any provision for herself,” the source added.
“She will continue to forge an independent life.” Another insider echoed this sentiment, stating, “She’s going to move forward independently.”
Speculation regarding Ferguson’s new abode has been rife, though a palace source indicated it is unlikely she will relocate to Sandringham, where Andrew is expected to reside after vacating Royal Lodge.
The impetus for these changes stems from a formal notice served on October 30, ordering Andrew to surrender the lease to Royal Lodge. This action follows King Charles’ decisive move to revoke his brother’s remaining royal honors, effectively ending his royal status. Andrew is now slated to move to a property on the Sandringham estate, with his future accommodation privately funded by the King.
Buckingham Palace officially confirmed the King’s decision in a statement released Thursday, asserting that he has “initiated a formal process to remove the ‘Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew.’” Going forward, he will be known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
The statement further clarified, “His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence. Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease, and he will move to alternative private accommodation.”
The Palace underscored that these censures “are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.” This decision comes on the heels of Andrew’s October 17 announcement that he would relinquish his Duke of York title, shortly after the publication of Andrew Lownie’s unauthorized biography, “Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York,” and ongoing scrutiny regarding his past association with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew, born the second-youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II in 1960 and once described as her favorite son, will now relocate to a property on the royal family’s privately-owned Sandringham estate in Norfolk. Royal author Anna Pasternak suggested to BBC News that this move is intended to keep him “out of the public eye” in a form of “exile.”