Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, is standing firmly by Prince Andrew as the fallout from his long-running controversies intensifies — and as both she and Andrew cease using their royal titles. Though divorced since 1996, the pair have remained unusually close by royal standards. They still share a home at Royal Lodge in Windsor, a sprawling, 30-bed residence that has become a symbolic focal point of Andrew’s turbulent position within the monarchy.
In a statement on Friday, Andrew acknowledged that accusations surrounding him — which he strongly denies — have become a distraction from the work of the Royal Family. The Palace confirmed that he will no longer use his royal titles; friends indicate Sarah will also stop using hers and is “relaxed” about the change, seeing it as a courtesy she no longer needs. Behind the polite formalities lies a complicated reality: public pressure on Andrew shows no sign of easing, and the drumbeat of calls for him to step away from public life continues.
For now, the practical question is where Andrew will live. He holds a reported 75-year lease on Royal Lodge, running until 2078, on “peppercorn” rent — a legal arrangement frequently described as “cast iron.” That has made talk of eviction particularly fraught, even as speculation swirls about whether the King could persuade Andrew to relocate. Any move would reverberate beyond real estate: it would signal how far the institution is willing — or able — to distance itself from a son who remains at the center of unwanted headlines.
Amid this uncertainty, Ferguson’s loyalty has been unwavering. Friends insist she will “always stand by Andrew,” emphasizing a bond that has weathered decades, divorces, and reputational storms. Her stance is not without cost. Sarah has faced criticism over past associations and, like Andrew, she must now navigate public life without the cushioning authority of a royal style. Yet she projects calm, leaning into the persona of a pragmatic survivor who can absorb the blows and keep going.
The ripple effects for their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, are delicate. Both have cultivated relatively quiet, work-focused lives while maintaining warm ties across the family. As attention returns to Royal Lodge and to Andrew’s status, Beatrice and Eugenie risk being drawn back into a spotlight they rarely seek — especially as commentators parse every sign of support, distance, or silence.
What comes next will be decided less by palace statements than by public sentiment and private negotiation. Can Andrew retain Royal Lodge under terms acceptable to the King, the Crown Estate, and the court of public opinion? Can Sarah continue to act as his fiercest ally while rebuilding her own role beyond titles? For the couple at the heart of this saga, stability now means lowering their profile and holding their ground — together — while the royal weather passes, or doesn’t.
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