Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson’s indulgent daily ritual together at Royal Lodge


The former couple lived happily at Royal Lodge in Windsor for 20 years, with Andrew last week officially leaving for Sandringham


A source told HELLO! that Sarah is comfortable with Prince Andrew's decision to give up his title© Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
Eleanor Dye
Eleanor DyeOnline Royal Correspondent
February 11, 2026
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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson have officially left Royal Lodge after 20 years living together at the Windsor estate - where they once claimed to be the "happiest divorced couple in the world". 

The former couple lived at the 30-room mansion from 2004 and 2008 respectively - but it appears the fairytale has now come to an end, with sources telling the Daily Mail on Tuesday that Sarah is intending to "put some distance" between herself and Andrew amid ongoing revelations in the so-called "Epstein files".  

But once upon a time, Andrew and Sarah maintained a remarkably amicable post-divorce friendship, and appeared to have quite the routine at Royal Lodge - one not without indulgence. In fact, the former Duke and Duchess of York had afternoon tea together "every day" for years, becoming a staple part of their routine. 

Sarah told the Daily Mail in 2018: "We stand up for each other, fight for each other. We're totally respectful of each other's position and thoughts and we listen to each other. Our children listen to us, too. And we sit around the table and have afternoon tea together. It's a very important part of our lives."

Andrew and Fergie's life together at Royal Lodge

Royal Lodge pictured in the 1930s© Getty Images
Royal Lodge pictured in the 1930s

The Grade II-listed Royal Lodge has 30 rooms and sits on a secluded 98-acre estate - making it one of the larger royal residences. The former Prince moved there in 2004, and it's thought his ex-wife joined him in 2008. However, Sarah never truly regarded it as "home". "When I'm in the UK I'm lucky enough to stay at Royal Lodge," she told the Telegraph. "I wouldn't call it my home as that would be presumptuous."

Are Sarah and Andrew still together?

Andrew and Sarah tied the knot at Westminster Abbey in July 1986 and went on to welcome two daughters, Princess Beatrice, now 37, and Princess Eugenie, 35. 

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
© Karwai Tang/WireImage
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is pictured at King Charles and Queen Camilla's Coronation

They announced an amicable split in 1992, officially divorcing four years later. However, they remained close friends, even fuelling romance rumours over the years that they were back together. 

In a previous interview with The Telegraph, Sarah admitted: "We always say we are the most contented divorced couple in the world. We're divorced to each other, not from each other. We are co-parents who support each other and believe that family is everything. I'm proud of the job we have done together in bringing up our children and sustaining a strong family unit. Our bywords are communication, compromise and compassion." 

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