Prince Philip's damning verdict on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson's home

The late Prince Philip was known for his famously dry, no-nonsense wit- something his daughter Princess Anne has inherited.

But he still managed to raise eyebrows with his response upon being shown design plans for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's home with Sarah Ferguson. 

His remarks came in 1988, two years after then-Prince Andrew married Sarah at Westminster Abbey on 23 July, 1986. 

As a wedding gift, the late Queen gifted her second son and his new wife Sunninghill Park, a country house and estate of about 665 acres located near to Windsor Great Park.

The couple finally moved in in 1990 after construction was completed at the property. But it seems Prince Philip was less than impressed by their vision for Sunninghill.

Upon being shown the plans, he reportedly remarked: "It looks like a tart's bedroom."

© Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Andrew and Sarah lived together at Sunninghill Park until 2004, despite their divorce in 1996. Andrew then relocated to Royal Lodge - and his ex-wife followed.

The former couple continued to cohabit in the Windsor property, right up until they were evicted by King Charles earlier this year in light of their association with Jeffrey Epstein.

© Tim Graham Photo Library via Get

Sarah no longer welcome at Andrew's new home

Sarah famously described her and Andrew as "the happiest divorced couple in the world". But their once rock-solid bond has been shattered over their connections to Epstein.

Both Sarah and Andrew lost their major honours and titles following revelations about their ties to the convicted paedophile, as well as being instructed to leave Royal Lodge.

© Getty Images

Andrew, 66, now lives at Marsh Farm, a five-bedroom property on the King's Sandringham estate. Sarah, meanwhile, recently made a discreet return to the UK, and is said to be renting a six-bed gated property somewhere in the Home Counties.

She continues to keep an incredibly low profile, and while many thought she was keen to keep her distance from Andrew, it seems the opposite is true. 

A source told The Times: "The red setter, as she's known, is not welcome at Marsh Farm. She's persona non grata as far as Andrew is concerned."

It's not known why she has been exiled by her ex-husband, but the cache of Epstein documents released in the US appear to show it was Sarah who introduced Andrew to Epstein.

© Getty Images

The source also refuted speculation that Andrew is wallowing in his own company. "Don't believe all that poor Andy [explicit]. He's having a very nice time, thank you very much. He goes out, he goes off shooting with friends, he sees his old chums who are very loyal to him. He's not sitting around feeling sorry for himself any more."

Beatrice and Eugenie show their support

Sarah has had at least two visitors since her move back to the UK. Both Beatrice and Eugenie have visited their mother at her new rental, according to royal commentator Phil Dampier.

Speaking exclusively to HELLO!, he said: "Friends tell me they have both been to see her at her new house in the past couple of weeks. I don't think they want to be seen with her in public at the moment, and she probably realises it's not a good idea either, but behind the scenes they are talking and trying to be supportive." 

© Photo: Getty Images

Phil continued: "They're very embarrassed and are obviously sort of reevaluating their own lives and their own contacts and the things they get involved with because they don't want to be tainted by scandal. But I don't think the relationship is quite as close as it used to be, certainly.

"I think the days of them being the tripod and inseparable have been fragmented. They have grown up and gone their own ways a bit, and they've got their separate lives and separate families."

Does Sarah have plans for a comeback?

Sarah had a reputation for being something of a comeback queen in the past. But will she be able to overcome this latest scandal? There has been speculation she is considering writing a tell-all book, preparing to tell her story on TV, or launching a business initiative - just as she has done before when times were tough.

© WireImage

"She's denied that she's writing a book, but I have no doubt she will attempt some sort of comeback at some point. Only she knows exactly how that will manifest and exactly what that will be," said Phil. 

"But she is the comeback queen. Who knows whether, at 67, she's capable of doing it or if it's too late. But she will certainly have a try."