Sarah Ferguson was reportedly staying with her ex-boyfriend Paddy McNally in the months before he died, it has been claimed.
The former Duchess of York, 66, dated the wealthy F1 tycoon before she met Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and they remained close friends for many years.
Sarah is said to have been given refuge by Paddy at his £15million Swiss chalet "Les Gais Lutins" in Verbier after being evicted from Royal Lodge, according to The Sun.
She had previously been spotted at the £14,000-a-week MayrLife Clinic in Australia back in March before a 90-day limit on staying in the EU ran out, and she was given refuge with Paddy in Switzerland.
© Tim Graham Photo Library via GetA source told the newspaper that Paddy "never abandoned" Sarah, who "needed a lot of looking after". In his final days, the insider added, he "allowed her safe sanctuary at his home".
Sarah Ferguson's heartbreak as her ex-partner Paddy McNally dies
It was revealed this week that Paddy had died aged 88 after suffering from a long-term illness, just two months after the tragic death of his son, Sean.
Sean was Paddy's son with his wife Anne Downing, and they also shared another son, Rollo, who is currently married to Elizabeth Daisy Hardman, commonly known as Daisy.
Sean and Rollo's mother, Anne, passed away in 1980. Paddy then went on to date Sarah Ferguson for three years, from 1982 to 1985, despite their 22-year age difference.
© PA Images via Getty ImagesPaddy had a background as a racing driver and worked alongside F1 icon Bernie Ecclestone.
He also owned property, including several chalets in the popular Swiss ski resort of Verbier, and Ian Fleming's former home in Wiltshire, now worth an estimated £40million. He also owned homes in Spain and St Tropez in France.
According to Andrew Lownie's book, Entitled, Sarah once said: "Paddy was my father figure, twenty-two years older than me.
"He taught me so much about life. Whenever I wanted advice, I turned to him because he was so worldly wise. He seemed to have seen and done everything."
Sarah Ferguson's current predicament
When things didn't work out with Paddy, Sarah went on to marry Andrew at Westminster Abbey, 40 years ago. After welcoming daughters Princess Beatrice, 37, and Princess Eugenie, 36, they divorced in 1996.
© Getty ImagesSarah is said to have stayed with Paddy in his Verbier chalet with her daughters when the divorce was made public in April that year.
She has been keeping a low profile in recent months after new revelations about her friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were made in January.
She has been urged to testify in Congress in the US and is believed to be homeless, while ex-husband Andrew is exiled at Marsh Farm in Sandringham.
