Sarah Ferguson to Spend Weeks Overseas Amid Epstein Scandal Housing Uncertainty
Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, is reportedly preparing to spend the coming weeks overseas as she continues her search for a new permanent home. This development comes amid the ongoing fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, which has directly impacted her living arrangements at Royal Lodge.
Royal Lodge Departure and Housing Search
Fergie's days at Royal Lodge, the 30-room Windsor mansion she has shared with her ex-husband Prince Andrew, are officially numbered. Prince Andrew has been forced to relinquish the lease on the property following renewed revelations about his association with the convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. While Andrew is expected to relocate to the King's Sandringham estate, Sarah Ferguson will not be joining him and must find alternative accommodation.
According to reports, Ferguson had expressed a preference to remain in the Windsor area, close to her established connections and community. However, sources indicate she has yet to secure a permanent residence, leaving her housing situation uncertain as the Royal Lodge transition approaches.
Overseas Stay and Family Options
PEOPLE magazine reports that the former Duchess will spend several weeks abroad while considering her long-term housing options. This temporary overseas stay suggests Ferguson is taking time away from the immediate pressure of the British media spotlight to make considered decisions about her future.
There had been previous speculation that Ferguson might move in with either of her daughters. One possibility involved residing with her older daughter, Princess Beatrice, at her Cotswolds home. Alternatively, she could have joined her younger daughter, Princess Eugenie, at her residence in Portugal. Neither of these options appears to have materialised as a permanent solution at this time.
Lifestyle Adjustments and Epstein Email Revelations
The Times suggests that Ferguson may need to "lower expectations" about her future lifestyle as she navigates this housing transition. This comes alongside the release of more than three million new pages from the Epstein files, which include previously undisclosed communications involving the former Duchess.
Newly released emails show Ferguson expressing warm sentiments toward Jeffrey Epstein in 2009 correspondence. In one message dated August 3, 2009, she described Epstein as "the brother I have always wished for" and later referred to him as a "legend." The email specifically thanked Epstein for complimenting her in front of her daughters, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie, during a lunch meeting.
Additional documents reveal that Ferguson invited Epstein to her 50th birthday celebration at St James's Palace in February 2010. This invitation occurred after Epstein's 2009 release from jail, where he served time for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
Context and Previous Statements
It is important to note that appearing in the Epstein files does not indicate guilt or wrongdoing. Ferguson's spokesperson previously claimed that her friendly communications with Epstein were made "in the context of advice the duchess was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats" after he allegedly threatened legal action against her.
This contrasts with Ferguson's public statements to reporters in 2011, when she asserted she would "never have anything to do with" the sex offender again. Earlier released emails from April 2011 show her referring to Epstein as her "supreme friend," highlighting the complex nature of their documented relationship.
As Sarah Ferguson prepares for her temporary overseas stay, the search for permanent accommodation continues against the backdrop of these Epstein scandal revelations and the significant changes to her living arrangements following Prince Andrew's loss of the Royal Lodge lease.
