Sarah Ferguson's permanent residence is yet to be disclosed amid her ex-husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's forced departure from Royal Lodge, a home the exes once shared, earlier this month.
The former Duchess of York is lying low following Andrew's arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office at his new home on the Sandringham estate on 19 February, with a source having told HELLO! before the arrest: "She has stood by [Andrew] all these years but is now ready to spread her wings.
© Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images"She won't be moving in with him to the new house on the Sandringham Estate. She won't be moving into Beatrice's Cotswolds home, though. Eugenie's home in Portugal is a contender while she finds somewhere."
Sarah's move abroad
Despite Sarah's divorce from Andrew being finalised in 1996, the pair have long maintained a close relationship, it would seem, until now. However, it's not the first time that Sarah has tried to make a clean break from her ex-husband.
Having lived at Royal Lodge since 2008, Sarah tried to go it alone in 2015 by making the Swiss chalet she purchased with Andrew her primary residence. At the time, her spokesperson addressed the move, stating: "She has a lot of international business commitments and has moved on considerably. So this is really showing she is becoming a more independent unit."
© GettyHer representative also confirmed that Sarah would maintain a room at Royal Lodge for "family occasions". As of 2016, the former duchess also kept a rented apartment in London's Eaton Square.
Sarah and Andrew's Swiss chalet
The pair purchased the Swiss chalet in 2014, with reports at the time stating that they dropped a staggering £13 million on the property. The pad was purchased on a joint mortgage and was described as a "family investment".
© Getty ImagesThe purchase came after years of taking their daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, to Verbier for private ski breaks. They reportedly sold the property for £22 million in 2022, and Sarah moved back to Royal Lodge. However, before that, in 2016, Sarah applied to become a permanent resident in Switzerland.
Sarah's attempt at a permanent move
At the time, she told a Swiss newspaper that "administrative procedures are underway" to make her official move to the ski resort.
© Getty ImagesShe also told Swiss newspaper Le Nouvelliste: "Since my first visit, I have regularly returned for holidays to Verbier. My family has followed me over the years. We feel free and happy, we feel at home."
She added: "I call it 'my home'. I find here a positive energy that allows me to focus on new philanthropic activities. Furthermore, I have begun the process of officially becoming a resident of Valais."
Where did Sarah Ferguson live before Royal Lodge?
Before Royal Lodge, Sunninghill Park in Berkshire was Andrew and Fergie's home. The 12-bed residence was built as a wedding gift to the pair from Queen Elizabeth. Amid their split, the exes continued to live together at the Ascot home until Andrew moved to Royal Lodge in 2004.
© Getty ImagesSarah remained there until 2006. Her move to Royal Lodge in Windsor and back in with her ex-husband in 2008 followed a fire at her solo residence, Dolphin House, in Surrey.
