Sarah Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor divorced in 1996 but remained very close, and now a royal expert shares her views on their current relationship amid the Jeffrey Epstein saga
Andrew has always viewed Fergie as the ‘most important woman in his life’
With Sarah Ferguson still flying very much under the radar following all the Jeffrey Epstein revelations, the speculation about her whereabouts and next steps is only growing. There have been rumours that she’s potentially living abroad, and also considering writing a tell-all book, but her office has yet to release any official statement about her current situation or plans.
Meanwhile, her ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor continues to be investigated over misconduct in public office following the revelations about his dealings with Jeffrey Epstein. The former Duke of York has strenuously denied any wrongdoing.
Although Fergie and Andrew divorced in 1996 they have maintained an unusually close relationship, and a royal author who spent time with the Duchess has recalled to the Mirror how their unique dynamic continued long after their formal separation.
Fergie at her last public engagement in September 2025(Image: UK Press via Getty Images)
“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’,” Ingrid Seward said. “He wasn’t really her husband at that point as they had separated, but that’s how they’ve always seen each other.”
Despite Andrew’s withdrawal from public duties and relocation to Marsh Farm after being evicted from Royal Lodge when he lost his Duke of York title, Ingrid suspects Fergie has no intention of cutting ties with him.
“I think she is in contact with Andrew, because she’s a kind person and I don’t think she’d want to leave him high and dry,” she said. “And also, he is the father of her children. And to him, she’s the mother of the children. He’s always seen her like that. He always saw her as the mother of his children and therefore she was the most important woman in his life, so of course she’s in contact with him.”
The family of four have remained very close despite Fergie and Andrew divorcing in the mid-nineties(Image: UK Press via Getty Images)
Ingrid also suggested that Fergie could be acting as a “go-between” between Andrew and their grown-up daughters, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, telling us, “Beatrice has always been close to Andrew, Eugenie less so.”
“Beatrice has the King on her side, he’s very fond of her,” she said. “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, she’s sort of a more simple person that Beatrice.”
There are still rumbling rumours that Fergie might consider a tell-all book or major TV interview in order to secure some financial security for the future, but Ingrid claims the former Duchess will be all-too-aware of what she could stand to lose if she went down that road.
Fergie with her daughters, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice(Image: Getty Images)
“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. I’m sure they’re telling her to keep quiet and lie low,” she told us.
“But that might be the only way she can make money, she’s not going to be supported by her children forever. But 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.
“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.”
