Sarah Ferguson experienced an uncomfortable moment during a recent interview when she decided to stand up and leave after being asked about her possible move from the Royal Lodge, the historic residence in Windsor that she has shared with Prince Andrew since 2004.
The question, which touched on the long-standing dispute between Andrew and King Charles over the property, apparently made the Duchess uneasy, according to royal correspondent Richard Mineards.
Richard Mineards faces Sarah Ferguson
Mineards, who was covering the event, explained that while other journalists were asking light-hearted questions, he decided to address the topic of her residence.
“I asked Fergie if, given her new contract, she would finally be moving out of the Royal Lodge, having previously said she couldn’t afford to maintain any of the properties offered by Queen Elizabeth,” he wrote in his column.
According to Mineards, Ferguson reacted visibly upset and left the room without answering.
Later that day, during a fundraiser hosted by Sarah Ferguson and James Ogilvy, the Duchess deliberately avoided Mineards.
“She quickly darted to the other side of the room when she saw me,” the journalist commented, adding that James Ogilvy noticed the tension and approached him to ask what had happened.
After hearing the explanation, Ogilvy simply rolled his eyes in disapproval.
The Royal Lodge dispute
The underlying cause of this awkward incident lies in a prolonged dispute between Prince Andrew and King Charles, who has unsuccessfully tried to get his brother to vacate the Royal Lodge.
The tension between them dates back to the time when Andrew was linked to the controversial financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Since then, Charles has sought to reduce financial support for his brother, urging him to move into a smaller residence.
In November 2024, it seemed that Andrew was finally going to leave the Royal Lodge.
However, in an unexpected twist, he found a mysterious benefactor willing to cover the property’s expenses, allowing him to remain in the iconic residence alongside Ferguson.
This outcome left the monarch visibly frustrated, prompting him to order the removal of valuable items from the property, citing concerns over maintenance and security.
Despite their divorce in 1996, Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew have maintained a close relationship, even sharing a home for nearly two decades.
The former couple has two daughters, Princess Beatrice, 36, and Princess Eugenie, 34, who have also witnessed the family tensions surrounding the Royal Lodge.