The imminent arrival of Sarah Ferguson back in the UK, along with the surprise return of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, has thrust the more problematic members of the Royal Family firmly back in the spotlight.
But despite a renewed frenzy of media speculation, few actually know where Ferguson is, or has been, for much of this year. There were rumours that she had been staying with a rich old boyfriend, Paddy McNally, in Switzerland, who died a month ago, aged 88, and that her recurrent money troubles were likely to be sorted after he left monies to her in his will. Much has, however, been going on behind the scenes.
According to my sources, Ferguson has spent the last nine months abroad, paid for by various contacts in the Middle East and Argentina – moving between Ireland, Argentina and her daughter Eugenie near Lisbon. While in Portugal to visit her new granddaughter, Adelaide, this month, I am told she also saw the Duke and Duchess of Sussex who have a house nearby and remain friendly with Eugenie.
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Her extended absence from the UK began just after Christmas 2025, when she checked herself into a Swiss health spa. In the early weeks of 2026 material was published showing the extent of Ferguson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. And at the start of February she effectively lost her British home after her former husband, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was evicted from Royal Lodge where Ferguson had continued to live with him despite being divorced in 1996.
