Sarah Ferguson is said to have made an outlandish – and entitled – request after being told that she and Andrew were being evicted from their shared home, Royal Lodge
Reality has now surely dawned on Sarah Ferguson regarding her dramatic fall from grace. Once known for her ability to bounce back from scandal, the former Duchess’s reputation is in tatters through her association with Jeffrey Epstein, with the royal family finally cutting ties and public opinion at an all-time low.
It seems it took her some time to fully understand her position, however. One royal expert described both Sarah and ex Andrew as living in a ‘weird fantasy world’ when they were told to evict Royal Lodge, with Sarah said to have made an outlandish demand regarding a new home.
According to reports, Fergie felt she ‘deserved’ to be given another royal property – and had her eye on Adelaide Cottage, former home to the Prince and Princess of Wales.
But that request would have gone down like a lead balloon with King Charles, according to royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams.
READ MORE: Humiliation grows as councils start to wipe out Prince Andrew’s street namesREAD MORE: King Charles’ ‘worry’ after making ‘difficult’ Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor decision
Speaking to the Daily Mail in October, he said: “If they think that having two homes – which the King I’m sure won’t agree to – is likely to solve things, they’re still living in a rather weird fantasy world. I’m surprised that Sarah Ferguson has managed these comebacks. There’s no comeback now, she’s in disgrace.
“There’s no reason at all that she should [have her own Crown Estate] home. This is an idea that Andrew has had to give up 30-room Royal Lodge. Well, let’s have two. I don’t see it working. If it was adopted, there’d be outrage… she’s not been a working royal since 1996 – the idea that should get anything on the Crown Estate… it doesn’t matter what she wants, she is getting out of touch with reality as he has so obviously been.”
It has since been confirmed that Andrew will be relocating from their former shared home, Royal Lodge, to a much smaller property on the King’s private Sandringham estate.
READ MORE: Princess Eugenie puts on brave face amid Andrew scandal on festive family fun day outREAD MORE: ‘I worked for royals and know true impact a Sarah Ferguson tell-all interview will have’
Sarah, meanwhile, is expected to live in a modest “granny flat” at her daughter Princess Beatrice’s house when she’s booted out of the 30-room mansion.
The annexe at the £3.5 million Oxfordshire mansion — which Beatrice shares with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and their children – is said to be “perfect” for Sarah.
One source noted that while it means Fergie can be close to her daughter, she will also be completely independent of the main house where Beatrice and Edoardo live.
“Sarah would be able to just walk a few yards and be an on-site baby sitter for Sienna who she simply adores and with Eugenie living in Portugal it makes perfect sense.”
The outbuilding is a small one-bedroom former cattle shed at Beatrice’s home, which is tucked away in a quaint village.
READ MORE: Sarah Ferguson’s four-word nickname that ‘could show her next big move’
Beatrice, 37, and Edoardo, 41, recently renovated the outhouse, with planning documents on the council website revealing how over the years they have made several adjustments to the property.
It is ready for Sarah to move in potentially before Christmas although Andrew, 65, is expected to spend one last festive period at Royal Lodge . The source told the Mail on Sunday last week: “The granny annexe seems to be ready to move into now.
“It’d be perfect for Fergie, wouldn’t it? The stonework has all been repointed, the gutters renovated, the woodwork nicely painted. It has its own entrance.”
Nevertheless, the future looks uncertain for Sarah. Sources have now claimed that the former Duchess of York is “actively open to offers” to pen a Spare-style memoir or do a sit down interview in which she discusses her royal trials and tribulations, in order to reinstate some kind of income.
While even her future living arrangements are up in the air, many have started to wonder how far Fergie will go to claw back some kind of positive public presence, along with a hefty pay cheque.
READ MORE: Inside Fergie, Epstein and Andrew’s toxic triangle – threats, loans and a ‘plot to kill’
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told the Mirror: “As I have mentioned before, for some reason, Andrew and Fergie have been drawn to great riches like moths to a candle.
“Sarah in particular seems to have been totally incapable of living within her means ever since she married into the Royal Family . Part of her money problems stems from her generosity. She has always loved to shower people with extravagant gifts, perhaps because of her low self-esteem, she thought it was a way to make them like her.
“As she said herself, she was always striving to be ‘the pleaser’. But both Andrew and Fergie seem to be trapped in a never-ending cycle of chasing wealth, no matter who their quarry is or what morals they hold.
“Now, in their 60s and both in deep disgrace, surely the time has come for them to cut their cloth to suit the money they have, and to live a quiet life without causing further embarrassment to themselves and to the family at large.”
But despite the potential lucrative offers, royal expert Jennie believes that while “there is no telling what Sarah will do next”. She added: “She has written her side of the story before, and she has clawed her way back from the depths of humiliation and despair. This time, however, I cannot see a way back for her.
“Any friendship with a man as depraved as Epstein is repulsive. To continue that friendship after he was convicted of sex crimes is indefensible. To sell her side of the story and take money for talking about Epstein would be equally indefensible.
“If she has got any sense – and I’m afraid that is up for debate – she will maintain a low profile and live her life quietly out of the public gaze.”
