Why did Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson split? Their secret to co-living as exes

She may have divorced Prince Andrew almost two decades ago, but Sarah Ferguson has stood by her ex-husband and supported him publicly and privately during his recent scandals and controversies.

Fergie officially left the Royal Family in 1996 when her divorce from the disgraced Duke of York was finalised. However, the Duchess of York, who shares daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie with Andrew, remains the best of friends with her ex – even residing with her former spouse at Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park.

In 2022, Virginia Giuffre – a central figure in the prolonged downfall of disgraced paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein – sued Andrew for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was 17. She said in an interview with BBC Panorama in 2019 that she was left "horrified and ashamed" after an alleged sexual encounter with Andrew in London in 2001.

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Although the parties settled the case, the agreement does not constitute an admission of guilt from the duke, who has always strenuously denied the allegations against him.

However, the settlement, which the late Queen Elizabeth contributed £2million to, and Andrew's friendship with paedophile Epstein was enough to tank the 65-year-old's public image. But Sarah still stood by her (former) man.

From the early days of their marriage being dogged with claims that Andrew cheated on Fergie and their infamous divorce in the 90s, the former couple have worked hard to become the friendliest of exes.

Why did Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson split up?

Andrew and Sarah were introduced to each other in June 1985 by Princess Diana, and embarked on a whirlwind romance, getting engaged in February 1986 and marrying that July. But it was far from a fairy-tale marriage.

A new bombshell biography about Andrew claims that the dad-of-two was either at sea or on a base far away from Fergie during the early days of their matrimony – one year he spent only 42 days at home.

Andrew reportedly told Sarah of his priorities: "I am a Prince, then a naval officer, then a husband." The disgraced royal is also said to have embarked on multiple affairs, allegedly sleeping with 'more than a dozen women' before his first wedding anniversary.

Fergie also reportedly played away with rumours of an affair with Texas oilman Steve Wyatt. The former couple's alleged extra-marital affairs became an open secret in royal circles – and a compromising photograph of Fergie appearing to have her toes sucked by her 'financial advisor' – meant it was no surprise when the pair formally announced their separation on March 19, 1992.

It took over four years for their divorce to be finalised. Sarah would later claim that the decision to dissolve their marriage was mainly financial. "I wanted to work; it's not right for a princess of the royal house to be commercial," the former Weight Watchers ambassador wrote, "so Andrew and I decided to make the divorce official so I could go off and get a job."

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's current co-living situation

Fergie and Andrew have remained close over recent years and she has stood by the disgraced duke after he was embroiled in a sex abuse scandal, which he vehemently denies. The former couple lived at Sunninghill Park in Ascot while married, but in 2004, Andrew moved into Royal Lodge. Since 2008, Sarah has also used it as her base whenever she is in the UK so the former couple can better co-parent - and co-grandparent.

Writing in the Sunday Times, Sarah explained why she resides with the disgraced royal when in the UK, saying: "I travel a lot and I've always been able to make wherever I am home. If I am staying in a hotel I have the same family photographs and scented candles around me. When I'm in the UK I'm lucky enough to stay at Royal Lodge. I wouldn't call it my home as that would be presumptuous."

The very friendly exes have also been known to holiday together; in 2019, Sarah and Andrew enjoyed a getaway to Bahrainwith Beatrice and her now-husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

In 2017, Sarah sparked rumours of a romantic reunion when she claimed she and Andrew "never really left each other". She admitted on an Australian radio show: "I think the love I had for him then, is the love I still have for him now. I still married the best and the greatest gentleman that I know. We are the happy ever after, it's just not about marriage. It's more about this extraordinary friendship we have."

Chatting to the Daily Mailin 2018, Sarah reiterated how "united" her family will always be, despite scandal and divorce. "We're the happiest divorced couple in the world. We're divorced to each other, not from each other," she mused. "My duty is to him. I am so proud of him. I stand by him and always will. The way we are is our fairytale. The Yorks are a united family. We've shown it."

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