Sarah Ferguson’s post-royal struggles and the mystery of where she is today

Sarah Ferguson’s story after her royal exit has never followed the same script as Princess Diana, and the gap between their lives only seems to have widened with time.

When Ferguson finalized her split from Prince Andrew in 1996, she walked away with a settlement reported to be around $475,000. In that same year, Diana secured a vastly different outcome in her divorce from King Charles III, receiving a reported $22 million along with an annual allowance.

The contrast would prove defining. In the years that followed, Ferguson tried to build a life that still reflected the royal world she had once inhabited. She became a spokesperson for Weight Watchers, wrote memoirs and children’s books, and launched various business ventures.

The approach was consistent, even if the projects changed, staying close enough to the spotlight to turn recognition into revenue. But behind the scenes, the financial strain was mounting.

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“She was introduced to this lifestyle and kept living it,” royal author Robert Jobson has said. “She was desperate for money.” That pressure would eventually spill into public view. In 2010, Ferguson was caught in a sting operation agreeing to accept cash in exchange for access to Andrew and royal connections. The moment became one of the most damaging headlines of her post-royal life.

Speaking later to Oprah Winfrey, she didn’t shy away from the reality of that period. “I was so out of control with desperation where I’d reached a point of no return,” she admitted, explaining she had been in debt “trying to keep Sarah going.”

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Her financial struggles also intersected with another deeply controversial figure, Jeffrey Epstein. Emails later made public revealed Ferguson asking him for financial help, suggesting roles she could take on and requesting support for travel and business opportunities.

“But why I don’t understand, don’t you just get me to be your House Assistant. I am the most capable and desperately need the money,” one email read. “Please Jeffrey think about it.”

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At the time, Ferguson also acknowledged accepting funds connected to Epstein, further complicating her already fragile public standing.

Looking back, her decision to accept a smaller divorce settlement appears to have been intentional. In her own words to Winfrey, “I chose friendship with the family. I wanted friendship with the boss,” a reference to Queen Elizabeth II. It was a choice that preserved ties. Now, decades later, those financial pressures seem to echo in her current circumstances.

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Following Andrew’s legal troubles in 2026 and his removal from royal duties, Ferguson has largely stepped out of public view. She has not been seen since late 2025, when she attended a family christening, and is believed to have spent time moving between wellness retreats in Europe, including Switzerland and Ireland, with unconfirmed stops in the Middle East.

Her departure from Royal Lodge marked a symbolic turning point. While Andrew relocated to Sandringham, Ferguson has reportedly been searching for a place of her own, signaling a desire for independence even amid uncertainty.

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At the same time, new financial challenges have surfaced. A potential $1.75 million U.S. publishing deal failed to materialize, and several of her charitable ventures have closed. Reports suggest she has considered new media opportunities, including another high-profile interview or even a memoir.

That possibility has reportedly left her daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, uneasy. Both have worked to maintain stable roles within the royal orbit, and concerns linger that any tell-all project could jeopardize their standing.

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Meanwhile, Ferguson’s inner circle appears to have narrowed. Rumors recently linked her to longtime friend Priscilla Presley, though a spokesperson firmly denied that she has been staying at Presley’s home.

However, those close to Ferguson suggest she has been leaning on a small group of trusted allies while navigating the fallout tied to Epstein and her ex-husband’s ongoing controversies.