Sarah Ferguson has 'no immediate plans' to leave £14k-a-week luxury resort despite location being exposed – report


The former Duchess of York was pictured for the first time in 213 days in an Austrian ski resort where she's been hiding from the public eye


Sarah Ferguson at Royal Ascot 2024© Getty Images
Eleanor Dye
Eleanor DyeOnline Royal Correspondent
Updated: 2 minutes ago
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Sarah Ferguson has 'no immediate plans' to leave the luxury Alpine ski resort where she has been hiding from the public eye. 

The former Duchess of York, 66, was pictured last week for the first time in 213 days at a £2,000-a-night resort near the Mayrlife Medical Health Resort in Altaussee, Austria, in images published by The Sun newspaper. 

Wearing a blue coat and keeping a low profile in a white baseball cap, it marked the first time that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's ex-wife had been seen since fleeing from public life after revelations surrounding her friendship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Despite this, Sarah intends to stay put for the "immediate" future, with a source telling The Sun the resort has "everything you'd want for a lengthy stay". 

Sarah is facing growing pressure to testify in the US over her links to Epstein. Last October, her Duchess title was removed when King Charles stripped Andrew's final titles. 

Sarah Ferguson 'will try to reinvent herself'

However, there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on her part in any of the emails released by the US Department of Justice in January. 

When was Sarah last seen in public?

Sarah last joined the royal family in public on September 16, 2025, for the Duchess of Kent's funeral in Westminster Cathedral. 

Sarah Ferguson with a grumpy expression at Ascot© WireImage
Sarah Ferguson has been travelling all over Europe

She was last photographed on December 12, 2025, as she arrived at St James's Palace for the christening of her granddaughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi. She was seen in the back of a car, but her face wasn't visible. 

Since then, she has reportedly been travelling around Europe following her exile from Royal Lodge in Windsor, with stops including Switzerland and Ireland. 

In recent months, she has also been dropped as patron of multiple charities, including Julia's House, a children's hospice in Corfe Mullen, The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, Prevent Breast Cancer, the Children's Literacy Charity, and the British Heart Foundation. 

Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York attend Katharine, Duchess of Kent's Requiem Mass service at Westminster Cathedral on September 16, 2025 © Getty Images
Sarah and Andrew last joined the royal family in public last September

Days after the US Department of Justice released a new batch of Epstein documents in late January, Sarah's charity, Sarah's Trust, announced that it would be closing for the foreseeable future.

Putting 'family first' 

Sarah is reportedly putting her "family first" as she continues her period of reflection in the mountains. 

Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice and Sarah Ferguson attend a memorial service© Getty Images
Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice and Sarah Ferguson attend a memorial service for Miles Frost

Over the weekend, her cousin Martin Barrantes revealed that Sarah’s decision to step back from the public eye stems from a "fierce determination" to protect her daughters, Princess Beatrice, 37, and Princess Eugenie, 36, and her grandchildren.

He told the Daily Mail: "I have spoken to her [and] can tell you that she just wants to protect her children and her grandchildren. 

"Sarah is going through a difficult moment, and I wanted to send her our support, she is a valued member of our family. Given the situation she seemed to be in good spirits."

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