Sarah Ferguson went public with her skin cancer diagnosis a few days ago. She had received treatment at the Mayrlife Clinic in Austria for weeks after her Christmas at Sandringham, but she says she’s back home at Royal Lodge now. Which is probably where she will stay for however long she wants. King Charles has indicated, time and time again, that he actually has no desire to evict Prince Andrew and Fergie from Royal Lodge, and it would be especially heartless for Charles to force the issue now that Fergie has dealt with two cancer diagnoses in a seven-month period. Plus, Charles and Camilla actually like Fergie and they want to show that they can “accept” rogue family members back into the fold. This is the point of a recent Telegraph piece, all about how Fergie has a lot of support from within the Firm. Some highlights:
Supporting Fergie is what QEII would have wanted: Today, however, there appears no question of the royals stepping up in solidarity – mindful, perhaps, that it is what the late Queen would have wanted. Having always admired her daughter-in-law for being “such a good mother” to Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie – not to mention a supportive ex-wife to her “favourite” son, Andrew – Elizabeth II made sure that she was never cast out completely.
Charles likes Fergie: According to one palace insider: “I think it’s fair to say that the King has never shared his father’s feelings towards the Duchess. They’ve always got on well and let’s be honest, last Christmas would not have happened as it did unless the King wanted it to happen like that, mindful of the message it was sending.”
Fergie feels Charles & Camilla’s support: Another source close to the Duchess added: “She has the support of her immediate family: the Duke, Beatrice and Eugenie, who have been steadfast throughout everything she has been going through. They have always propped each other up in difficult times and this is no different. But the King has also been extremely supportive of her since her breast cancer diagnosis – he has been fantastic and so has the Queen.”
Charles likes that Fergie shows loyalty to Andrew: Although the King and his brother have not always seen eye to eye, friends say the King and Queen are not only admiring of the Duchess’s “resilience” but appreciative of her loyalty to the Duke – especially during the scandal over his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. As one royal source put it: “They’ve had to put up with their fair share of criticism themselves and I think they see the Duchess as someone who, like them, epitomises the spirit of keeping calm and carrying on. She has always just got on with it – despite what’s been thrown at her in the press.”
Staying in Royal Lodge was part of the deal Andrew made with QEII: In February 2022, Andrew reached an out-of-court settlement with Epstein sex trafficking victim Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she had been forced to have sex with the Duke on three separate occasions – an allegation he strenuously denies. At the time it was suggested that he had handed over a rumoured £12 million (with no admission of wrongdoing or liability) to spare his late mother any further embarrassment in her Platinum Jubilee year. In return, it is thought that both the Duke and Duchess were given assurances that they would be able to remain at Royal Lodge, and play an active part in Royal family events. Although there have been reports of the couple facing “eviction” as the King attempts to slim down the royal property portfolio, the Duke has decades left on the 75-year lease he signed on the property in 2003 – and it seems unlikely they will be forced to move now.
It’s always remarkable to me that Andrew managed to position his out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre as something he was doing for the good of the family, like he actually “protested” his need to settle. It’s insane that Andrew was like “I’m settling with my rape victim for you, mummy, so I need you to do something else for me, in addition to providing me with the $13 million settlement, you need to promise that I’ll never be kicked out of my mansion!” I’m absolutely sure it happened that way and that Charles is largely “honoring” QEII’s promise to Andrew, that Andrew and Fergie would get to stay in Royal Lodge. Even when Charles offered Frogmore Cottage to them, it was free of charge and the offer was made more to insult Harry and Meghan. As for Fergie… I hope she’s okay and it sounds like all of her shenanigans are water under the bridge for the Windsors.
Photos courtesy of Cover Images, Avalon Red.
Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York, attend Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene church, Sandringham, United Kingdom, on 25 December 2023.,Image: 832317034, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Arthur Edwards / Avalon 
Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York, attend Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene church, Sandringham, United Kingdom, on 25 December 2023.,Image: 832317037, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Arthur Edwards / Avalon 
Members of the British Royal Family attend the Christmas Day service at Sandringham Featuring: Sarah Duchess of York Where: Sandringham, Norfolk, United Kingdom When: 25 Dec 2023 Credit: Cover Images
Members of the British Royal Family attend the Christmas Day service at Sandringham Featuring: Lena Tindall, Zara Tindall, Sarah Duchess of York Where: Sandringham, Norfolk, United Kingdom When: 25 Dec 2023 Credit: Cover Images 
Members of the British Royal Family attend the Christmas Day service at Sandringham Featuring: Sarah Duchess of York Where: Sandringham, Norfolk, United Kingdom When: 25 Dec 2023 Credit: Cover Images 
Members of the British Royal Family attend the Christmas Day service at Sandringham Featuring: Prince Andrew Where: Sandringham, Norfolk, United Kingdom When: 25 Dec 2023 Credit: Cover Images
Members of the British Royal Family attend the Christmas Day service at Sandringham Featuring: Sarah Duchess of York Where: Sandringham, Norfolk, United Kingdom When: 25 Dec 2023 Credit: Cover Images 
Members of the British Royal Family attend the Christmas Day service at Sandringham Featuring: Sarah Duchess of York Where: Sandringham, Norfolk, United Kingdom When: 25 Dec 2023 Credit: Cover ImagesncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pLHLnpmirJOdxm%2BvzqZmcW1kZ4Jxe9KaqZqgj5uys7PUrKanl6Cntq%2BvxJiYp5yimsSgs8StlpqXnKTBoLvFmKquqKCkv7WrxaumppeknbKgt8innpippZqyr3s%3D