Sarah Ferguson is reportedly preparing to return to the UK, having relocated to a Swiss chalet amid the fallout from her and ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s friendship with convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. According to reports, the former Duchess of York, 66, is renting a six-bedroom gated property in the home counties.
The scandal surrounding their relationship with Epstein led to both Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor losing their royal titles last year. Ferguson is believed to have been spending time out of the public eye at a Swiss Alpine chalet in Verbier since leaving Royal Lodge, with her belongings reportedly collected from Andrew’s Sandringham home this week.
Ferguson has faced calls to speak with US authorities regarding Epstein, particularly after the release of documents last year that shed new light on their relationship. Emails from 2011, published last September, reportedly showed Ferguson privately describing Epstein as her “supreme friend” and apologising for “letting him down.”
Earlier this year, Ferguson’s international charity, Sarah’s Trust, announced its closure. This followed several charities, including the Teenage Cancer Trust, cutting ties and revoking her patronage due to her links with Epstein. Six companies linked to Ferguson were also wound down in February after further revelations from the Epstein files.