Sarah Ferguson, the UK’s former Duchess of York, may be preparing to spend an extended period in Portugal early next year, according to a report in the UK’s Daily Express.
The British newspaper claims that friends and neighbours believe she could arrive in January to stay at her daughter Princess Eugenie’s £3.6 million (over €4 million) seafront villa at the ultra-exclusive Costa Terra Golf and Ocean Club in Melides, about 130 kilometres south of Lisbon.
“How long she’ll stay is anyone’s guess but if it’s a long-term move, I can guarantee she’ll fit well into the social scene. Scores of celebrities and Hollywood stars have been snapping up properties in the area,” a “wealthy neighbour” told the Daily Express. Portugal has been attracting interest from many international stars and public figures, attracting the likes of Madonna, Scarlett Johansson, Alicia Vikander and Michael Fassbender. Nicole Kidman has also reportedly sought Portuguese residency.
According to the Express, Ferguson, 66, is facing an uncertain housing situation in Britain as her long-term living arrangement at Royal Lodge, Windsor, comes to an end. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrw, with whom she has shared the home for 17 years despite their 1996 divorce, is expected to relocate to a property on the Sandringham Estate, but no equivalent arrangement has reportedly been made for her.
Their forced relocation comes in the wake of the Epstein scandal and the former prince’s reported role in it, namely accusations of sexual abuse against a minor. As a result, the continued controversy surrounding his association with Epstein saw Andrew stripped of his honours, styles, and royal titles. Like her former spouse, Ferguson has been stripped of all royal titles and has lost all her prestige charity roles, including ambassador for the British Heart Foundation, following a leaked email in which she referred to Jeffrey Epstein as a “supreme friend”.
Thus, the newspaper says that Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, are encouraging the former duchess to spend time abroad and have offered their Melides villa as a temporary refuge while she weighs her next steps. The Express also reports Ferguson has been seeking professional advice on rebuilding her public image, after losing various media roles and charity positions in recent years. A source quoted by the paper suggested Portugal could offer her “a perfect place to hide out” surrounded by family and away from the scrutiny she faces in the UK.
