Inside the Lives of Sarah Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor After the High-Profile Scandal

Once among the most visible faces of the monarchy, the royal couple now finds themselves navigating the quiet chaos of a shared but divided life.

Inside Royal Lodge, the sprawling 30-room home nestled in Windsor Great Park, the atmosphere has reportedly grown increasingly tense and uncertain.

Sarah Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor during the King George VI racing meet at Ascot Racecourse on July 29, 2017, in England. | Source: Getty Images

Home to the former Duke and Duchess of York, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson, who His Majesty has stripped of their titles, now occupy opposite ends of the estate — both physically and emotionally.

According to insiders, the couple's once-public displays of unity have faded behind closed doors, replaced by strained silences and solitary routines.

Sarah Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor during Day 4 of Royal Ascot in 2019. | Source: Getty Images

Reports reveal that the two only cross paths at mealtimes, where conversation reportedly centres on the unpredictable future that awaits them. Andrew, 65, is said to spend most days wandering the corridors of the vast property, muttering to himself and keeping to the shadows of royal life. A source revealed:

"They are both spending a lot of time alone. Andrew rarely goes out and has been padding around the lodge and ranting and muttering."

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson at the Easter Service at Windsor Castle on March 31, 2024, in England. | Source: Getty Images

Sarah, meanwhile, has found refuge in a private retreat behind the estate — a purpose-built bar known as The Doghouse. There, she is often joined by staff and close friends, allegedly using the space to talk through her fears, receive advice, and escape her reality.

"Luckily, Sarah has quite a few staff left working for her who really like her, and she is really leaning on them for support," an insider shared.

Sarah Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor at the Easter Sunday Mattins Service at St. George's Chapel on April 20, 2025, in Windsor, England. | Source: Getty Images

Though no longer legally married, the former couple has long maintained a curious domestic arrangement. That setup, however, appears to be nearing its end.

Sarah Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor at Katharine, Duchess of Kent's Requiem Mass service at Westminster Cathedral on September 16, 2025, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

With Andrew — who was reportedly also offered safe dwellings by Abu Dhabi's super-rich ruler Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan — reportedly preparing to move to King Charles III's Sandringham estate in Norfolk, Sarah has been left to grapple with her own housing dilemma.

Sarah Ferguson at the Easter Service at St. George's Chapel on April 20, 2025, in Windsor, England. | Source: Getty Images

Sources say she has expressed concern over her safety and the future of her living situation, describing her as anxious and on edge about what lies ahead. An insider added:

"One thing Fergie is not sure about is where she will live. For the first time in many years, though, it will be away from Andrew."

Sarah Ferguson and Princess Beatrice during Day 1 of Royal Ascot on June 17, 2025, in England. | Source: Getty Images

However, Sarah, 66, may be preparing for a dramatic change of scenery. Reports have surfaced that she is set to leave the UK altogether, with a potential move to Portugal already in motion.

A guest suite is said to be waiting for her at a £3.6 million oceanfront villa in Melides, owned by her daughter, Princess Eugenie, and her son-in-law, Jack Brooksbank.

Sarah Ferguson during Day 4 of Royal Ascot on June 20, 2025, in England. | Source: Getty Images

One wealthy neighbour of the gated Costa Terra Golf and Ocean Club in Melides revealed, "The word here is that Fergie will be arriving sometime in January. How long she'll stay is anyone's guess, but if it's a long-term move, I can guarantee she'll fit well into the social scene."

Sarah Ferguson in the Royal Box on Centre Court during the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships on June 30, 2025, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

Hollywood stars such as Madonna, Scarlett Johansson, Alicia Vikander and her actor husband Michael Fassbender, and Nicole Kidman are a few names said to be buying land in Portugal.

Furthermore, should Sarah choose to make the move permanent, she wouldn't be without support. According to royal author Andrew Lownie, she still counts powerful friends among her inner circle.

Sarah Ferguson at the 3rd "Knights of Charity" Gala on July 17, 2025, in Cannes, France. | Source: Getty Images

Richard Branson has reportedly offered her an open invitation to Necker Island, and others are said to be standing by to help. The royal author added that Sarah was even gradually rebuilding her position within royal circles before her ex-husband's dramatic fall from grace.

Sarah Ferguson at the Funeral of the Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral on September 16, 2025, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

The controversy surrounding Andrew reached a peak in early 2022 when he settled a civil lawsuit filed against him in the United States.

Virginia Giuffre accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17 after she was allegedly trafficked to the former royal by Jeffrey Epstein.

Melania Trump, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Gwendolyn Beck, and Jeffrey Epstein at a party at the Mar-a-Lago club on February 12, 2000, in Palm Beach, Florida. | Source: Getty Images

Though the settlement included no admission of guilt, Andrew agreed to pay a substantial, undisclosed sum and make a donation to Virginia's charity in support of victims' rights.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor following King Charles III and Queen Camilla's coronation on May 6, 2023, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

Legal experts have estimated that the cost to Andrew exceeded $10 million — approximately £8 million — not including his own legal fees.

The case brought renewed scrutiny to his long-standing association with Jeffrey, a convicted sex offender, with whom Andrew had shared a widely reported and deeply damaging friendship.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor following the royal family's traditional Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene Church on December 25, 2023, in Sandringham, eastern England. | Source: Getty Images

Since then, according to reports, a growing number of individuals, from protection officers to diplomats, have reportedly come forward with stories of their own, further complicating the public's perception of the disgraced royal.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor at the traditional Easter Sunday Mattins Service at St. George's Chapel on April 20, 2025, in Windsor, England. | Source: Getty Images

However, despite their growing distance, one thing remains a shared priority between the two — their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. An insider shared:

"[...] They both want to shield them as much as possible from what is going on."

Princess Eugenie, Sarah Ferguson, and Princess Beatrice during Day 11 of the Olympic Games on July 8, 2012, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

Still, amidst the controversy surrounding their parents, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have allegedly found themselves navigating a new and uncomfortable position in the royal ecosystem.

Princess Beatrice of York and Princess Eugenie of York during the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

Despite reported offers of support from the King, including the secondment of a senior royal official to help provide structure, the princesses appear to be distancing themselves from both the crown and their father's legacy.

According to one insider, the sisters have so far resisted efforts by their cousin, Prince William, to initiate an ethics review of their financial dealings — an attempt to prevent any indirect links to Andrew's questionable connections.

Princess Beatrice, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Princess Eugenie, and Prince William at the 2007 Trooping of the Colour Ceremony in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

The internal pressure has been palpable. In one emotional moment captured near Buckingham Palace, a professional lip reader claimed Princess Beatrice told her sister, "We're in this together, don't forget that."

She reportedly warned Princess Eugenie that "it's going to get harder" and "we can't do anything," to which Princess Eugenie seemed to reply that "everything is changing."

Princess Beatrice of York, Princess Eugenie of York, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, on Day 2 of Royal Ascot 2024 on June 19 in England. | Source: Getty Images

With their father's reputation tarnished and their mother's future uncertain, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are now left to chart their own course through a landscape where privilege and public scrutiny collide.