Sarah Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's relationship has always been a source of interest to the public, not only because they are members of the British royal family, but also because they maintained their close bond following their split and continued to live together at their former home, Royal Lodge.
In fact, they had such an amicable split that Fergie once famously described them as "the happiest divorced couple."
A lesser-known reason for this harmonious co-parenting relationship, however, was Sarah's quiet demand to the late Queen Elizabeth II behind palace doors. Despite one supposed catalyst for the divorce being Sarah's need to find a job to fund her lifestyle, something that was not possible while she remained married to a royal, she claimed she did not ask for money in the settlement.
In an interview with Harpers Bazaar in 2007, she recalled that she asked for "friendship, not money."
Sarah said: "When I met with Her Majesty about it, she asked, 'What do you require, Sarah?' and I said, 'Your friendship,' which I think amazed her because everyone said I would demand a big settlement.
"But I wanted to be able to say, 'Her Majesty is my friend'
© Tim Graham Photo Library via GetSarah and Andrew legally separated in 1992, when his naval career would only allow the couple to see each other for 40 days a year for the first five years, but finalised their divorce in 1996.
© Getty"I still see, love, and admire [the Queen.] I didn't want a divorce but had to because of circumstance," she confessed to the publication, describing it as "the most painful time of my life."
Living arrangements
In the immediate aftermath of their divorce, Sarah lived at their former family home, Sunninghill Park, with their daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, before moving to a rented home in Windlesham, Surrey.
In 2008, Sarah moved back in with the former Prince Andrew at Royal Lodge in Windsor, where they stayed until he was forced to relinquish the keys and vacate to the Sandringham Estate in February 2026.
© Getty ImagesDiscussing their unusual living arrangements at the same home, Andrew Lownie, royal author of the book, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, revealed there wasn't "much contact" between the two of them.
"Sarah had her own set of apartments at the opposite end of the house, and although they did meet and speak on the phone, I don't think there was much contact. There was always this rather cynical idea that he was her calling-card for business and seeing members of the royal family," he penned.
