Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson are facing intensified pressure from royal advisers to leave the United Kingdom entirely, as senior figures argue that relocating within Britain will no longer blunt the scrutiny surrounding the Duke of York. According to people familiar with internal discussions, a permanent move abroad is now being framed as the only credible reset for a couple whose presence continues to draw attention to unresolved controversies.
Andrew, 65, is preparing to vacate Royal Lodge in Windsor, where he has lived with Ferguson since 2008 despite their divorce, with the move expected before his 66th birthday on Feb. 19. His immediate plan is to base himself at Marsh Farm, a five-bedroom property on the Sandringham estate undergoing extensive renovations. Advisers say the relocation is intended to reduce visibility, but warn that remaining in the UK keeps the "York scandal" in public view.
"With Andrew preparing to leave Royal Lodge, there's a growing expectation inside the palace that this shouldn't just be a change of address within Britain," one palace insider said. "The view being expressed is that a move overseas, for both Andrew and Sarah, could offer a real reset."
Andrew, the late Queen Elizabeth II's second son, stepped back from public duties in 2019 following his association with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Since then, he has largely vanished from official royal life, while Ferguson has continued writing and media appearances. Their continued cohabitation has become increasingly untenable, advisers say, as it prolongs association with past controversies.
The pressure is being driven in part by concern for their daughters, Princess Beatrice, 37, and Princess Eugenie, 35, who are seeking to establish independent public identities. "By putting physical distance between themselves and the UK, it would give Beatrice and Eugenie the space to live their lives in a healthier, more positive environment, without their parents' issues constantly hanging over them," the palace insider said.
Marsh Farm, described by people familiar with the property as "ramshackle" and "pest-infested," is being refurbished to provide greater privacy. Even so, advisers argue it is insufficient. "Among those advising them, there's a strong sense that Andrew and Sarah simply haven't faded far enough into the background whilst remaining in Britain," one source said. "The guidance now is far more blunt - to remove themselves from view entirely and rebuild their lives somewhere much quieter."
Friends say the idea of moving abroad has circulated since the Epstein scandal erupted, with Europe and the Middle East previously explored but deferred due to uncertainty and finances. "For years, there were conversations about spending significant time overseas, or even basing themselves abroad, but those ideas were always postponed for one reason or another," another insider said. "Now, however, the tone has shifted."
Family dynamics have added urgency. Reports of tension between Andrew and Eugenie have intensified calls for distance, with sources noting Eugenie spent Christmas at Sandringham with the Royal Family rather than in Windsor. "Those close to the family genuinely believe that Beatrice and Eugenie would be better served by having unmistakable space from their parents' situation," a source said.
Ferguson is said to be more receptive to an overseas move, particularly after recent health challenges and a desire for a quieter life. "Rather than seeing a move as a loss, she's said to view it as an opportunity to remove herself from the relentless scrutiny and criticism," one insider said. Andrew, by contrast, is described as conflicted. "The UK still carries a powerful sense of belonging and identity for him, and the idea of leaving it behind is emotionally complicated," the source added.
