Sarah Ferguson’s true feelings about being stripped of her royal title has been revealed by an insider close to Fergie. The 66-year-old, previously known as the Duchess of York, will no longer be able to use her title after her ex husband Prince Andrew, relinquished his title and honours this week.
It comes after building pressure surrounding the disgraced royal’s association with the monarchy amid a fresh wave of controversy regarding the Epstein scandal and the furore over his contact with an alleged Chinese spy. The King’s younger brother made the decision, after talks with both Charles and Prince William, with the monarch said to be “glad” at the outcome.
Fergie, who divorced Andrew over 30 years ago, has remained by his side as one of his greatest supporters and even still lives with him at his Royal Lodge home. She will now revert back to her maiden name of Ferguson, losing her courtesy royal divorcee title Sarah, Duchess of York.
Insiders say that despite the heat on their family, she is understood to be relaxed about losing her title and believes this decision will not make much of an impact on her life, according to a source who spoke with Hello! Magazine.
They said: “She will always support her former husband’s decisions and do anything for the King. For her, this will not make a big difference.”
Sarah has been embroiled in her own scandal too as she was dropped by multiple charities last month following reports that she wrote to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein over an email that she was sorry for disowning him in the media and hailed him as a “supreme friend”.
Andrew relinquishing his titles is believed to be the first time that a senior royal had stopped using a dukedom for over 100 years.
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The last time it happened was during the First World War when Queen Victoria’s grandson, the Duke of Albany, was stripped of his title under the Titles Deprivation Act 1917 for fighting on the German side.
In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, Andrew said: “In discussion with the King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family.”
He added, after referencing his decision to step down from public life more than five years ago: “With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me.
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“I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first.”
Regardless of this, Andrew will remain a prince, which he has been entitled to since birth as the son of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
He is also still eighth in the line of succession and the change will not impact his daughters, who will remain Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
