Experts Claim Sarah Ferguson Still Has Palace Support Unlike Most Royal Exes Despite Her Exile
A royal biographer explains why Sarah Ferguson remains unusually supported by the Royal Family despite scandal and divorce from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Sarah Ferguson’s place on the edges of royal life has been complicated, but one royal author believes she has reason to count herself fortunate. Despite her 1996 divorce from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and her continued exile from royal duties, the former Duchess of York has remained tethered to the family in ways few others have. While her public standing has suffered repeated blows, royal biographer Andrew Lownie, who has written extensively on the Yorks, argues that Ferguson’s continued proximity to royal support is something many other former spouses would definitely envy.
Lownie, whose book Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York is sharply critical of Mountbatten-Windsor, also reflected on Ferguson’s unusual position during an appearance on the Sunday Morning podcast as reported by Express. “Sarah Ferguson, everyone feels sorry for, but again, the King is making provision for her,” he said. Noting the longevity of her divorce, he added, “she has been divorced from Andrew now for 30 years, and she is still kind of hanging in there.” Lownie concluded, “So I think a lot of divorced wives would be absolutely thrilled to have the sort of relationship that Sarah Ferguson seems to have with the Royal Family.” In an institution known for quietly severing ties, the 66-year-old’s continued access, even after divorce, remains a rare exception.
These remarks come at a moment of transition for Ferguson, who is preparing to leave Royal Lodge after King Charles asked Mountbatten-Windsor to surrender the lease. Although she remained close to her former husband long after their marriage ended, she will not follow him to the King’s Sandringham Estate, where he’s expected to shift by early 2026. This move also marks the end of a rare post-divorce living arrangement. While her next move is still uncertain, recently she broke cover for the first time since the stripping of her titles to attend the christening of Princess Beatrice’s daughter, Athena.
Among those present at the low-key service were Princess Eugenie, Ferguson, and Mountbatten-Windsor. The three attended the ceremony separately and were not photographed together during the event. Their appearance marked a rare shared family occasion following months of intense scrutiny, particularly after the disgraced royal’s titles and honors were formally removed by King Charles. While neither made a public statement, their presence signaled a continued involvement in their daughter’s life, even as their standing within the monarchy has shifted dramatically. Along with Ferguson, it was also Mountbatten-Windsor’s first gathering since the funeral of the Duchess of Kent.
Just days after the christening, Beatrice and Eugenie stepped back into the royal fold together, making a joint appearance at King Charles’ annual Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace. While they were welcomed into the palace alongside Prince William and Princess Kate, Ferguson and Mountbatten-Windsor were noticeably absent. Interestingly, the former Duke was instead seen riding on horseback in Windsor Great Park the same day, while the former Duchess remained out of view, continuing to keep a low profile.
