Sarah Ferguson’s very unusual living arrangement with ex-husband Prince Andrew

Sarah Ferguson may have finalised her divorce from Prince Andrew 28 years ago but the pair still live together and hold a close bond.

The Duchess of York, who is celebrating her 65th birthday today, shares two daughters with the disgraced duke, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

The former couple still live at Royal Lodge, despite Andrew’s latest dispute with King Charles over his living arrangements, following his struggles with the upkeep of the 30-bedroom Windsor mansion.

Fergie, as she is known to family and friends, had known Andrew since they were children and ended up marrying him in 1986.

But they split up in 1991 with their divorce being finalised in 1996.

However, even after their split, the duchess stood by Andrew during and after the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, which forced him to step down from his royal duties in 2019.

Back in 2010, Sarah told US TV host Ernie Manouse: “My deal was that I was marrying my man, who happened to be a prince and a naval officer.

“But what I got was not the man, I got the palace and didn’t get him… and the courtiers told me I had to go to Buckingham Palace and he had to go to sea. For our marriage, I saw him 40 days a year.”

Andrew and Fergie first lived at Sunninghill Park in Ascot when they got married but moved to Royal Lodge in 2004.

The duchess told the Sunday Times in 2021 how she considers Royal Lodge to be her UK base whenever she’s in the country.

She said: “I travel a lot and I’ve always been able to make wherever I am home. If I am staying in a hotel I have the same family photographs and scented candles around me.