Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, often portrayed as the "happiest divorced couple in the world," are bracing for the release of a new book by royal biographer Andrew Lownie, set to hit shelves in 2025. The book, the third in a trilogy about Royal Family marriages, aims to delve into the couple's courtship, marriage, and their enduring closeness despite their divorce over 30 years ago.
In an exclusive interview with Daily Express US, Lownie expressed his curiosity about the couple's relationship, stating, "This is a couple who got divorced within 10 years of marriage, and yet, 30 years, 40 years later, and in effect, are still living together." The royal biographer questions how they arrived at this point and whether their public image truly reflects their private reality.
Lownie emphasizes the uniqueness of his upcoming book, as it will be the first joint biography of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, relying heavily on first-person interviews to tell their story. However, the author faces challenges in gathering information, as both Andrew and Sarah have asked those around them not to speak to him. Lownie revealed that he reached out to Fergie directly, and although she responded, she ultimately declined to contribute to the book and has discouraged others from doing so.
The royal biographer believes this decision may hinder their ability to shape the narrative, stating, "I think that was the wrong decision by them. It would help them shape the narrative if their friends would talk to me. As a result, the people talking to me aren't necessarily very supportive of them and are much more critical."
Despite these obstacles, Lownie remains committed to presenting a complete picture of the couple, both the good and the bad. He relies on interviews with people who are less close to Andrew and Sarah to uncover the real story. The upcoming book is expected to begin with the couple's wedding and will focus on the perspectives of those who knew them at the time.
Lownie encourages anyone who has knowledge of or encounters with Andrew and Sarah to come forward, stating, "I'd love to hear from anyone who knew them, who has come across them. The more voices I can have in the book."
The author's reliance on interviews rather than archives poses an additional challenge, as Andrew and Sarah are actively discouraging people from speaking to him. Lownie notes, "It's not the kind of book that's going to rely on archives, it's going to rely on interviews - and they are telling people not to talk to me."
The forthcoming book comes at a time when Prince Andrew has been embroiled in scandals, most notably his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Despite the allegations against Andrew, Sarah Ferguson has remained steadfastly by his side. Royal expert Ingrid Seward suggests that this unwavering support may stem from a promise made to the late Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away in September 2022.
Seward speculates, "Sarah must have talked to the Queen. And she must have said 'Please look after Andrew for me'. And that's what she is going to do. I don't think she will leave him and I don't think they'll get married again."
