Back in August of last year, Sarah Ferguson announced that she was moving full-time to Switzerland. She and her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, had bought a $20 million “ski chalet” together and she was going to make the chalet her permanent home. The whole thing seemed shady as hell, for financial reasons (where did either of them get the money?) and for romantic reasons (were Andrew and Sarah basically back together?). But throughout the shadiness, there were also rumors that Sarah was quite seriously involved with Manuel Fernandez, a 48 year old “internet entrepreneur,” and that she was moving to Switzerland to be closer to him. Sarah is 56, eight years older than Fernandez. Allegedly, they’d been dating since 2014. And now it’s over?
The Duchess of York is said to be ‘devastated’ after being dumped by her partner Manuel Fernandez. Sarah Ferguson, 56, was reported to have been dating the half-Irish half-Spanish internet entrepreneur since being introduced by a mutual friend in early 2014 and, despite the eight-year age gap, insiders say she was ‘besotted’ with him.
They made several public appearances together at a string of high-profile events and, last September, the pair attended Sir Bob Geldof’s wedding in the South of France. People close to the pair insisted they were just friends, even after they were spotted holidaying in Cannes together last May, followed by a trip to Asturias, Spain in June.
A source told The Sun: ‘Manuel’s not been around for several weeks and apparently he finished it with her. She’s been very tearful and weepy.’
She recently applied for permanent residency in Switzerland, where it was revealed she and Andrew had bought a luxury chalet as a ‘family investment’ for their two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, last year. Manuel was understood to have stayed more than once with Fergie at the £13 million chalet.
In an interview earlier this month, she told Swiss newspaper Le Nouvelliste: ‘I find here a positive energy that allows me to focus on new philanthropic activities. Furthermore, I have begun the process of officially becoming a resident of Valais. The administrative procedures are underway.’
A spokesperson for the Duchess of York told The Sun that she and Manuel were always good friends and continue to be so.
I wonder… it will be interesting to see if Fergie goes through with the citizenship thing in Switzerland or if she changes her mind and wants to go back to England permanently. Just in the past few months, it has felt like there’s some general “thawing” within the royal family towards Fergie. While I didn’t write about it at the time, the Daily Mail had a big exclusive a few weeks ago about Fergie being “brought in out of the cold,” and a lot of credit was given to the Duchess of Cornwall, of all people. As for Fergie’s breakup… this has nothing to do with her age, because I’ve honestly never understood why any man with any kind of profile or legitimacy would go with her. She’s sort of a trainwreck-personality, just my opinion.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Getty.
I’ll never forget when she was caught on camera, that she was willing to sell out her ex for money. She always rubbed me wrong and I feel she would be a nightmare to deal with on a day to day basis.
I think he is fully on board with selling out. She is like a pimp and he is a very willing prostitute
+1
I totally agree @aims.
I used to be sympathetic to her, but that scandal, plus her obnoxious comments about it on the Oprah show and her subsequent OWN series “Finding Sarah” turned my sympathy to dislike. She was arrogant and haughty. Plus the sycophantic swoon she always does about Prince Andrew is so transparent–she wants him to keep supporting her, letting her stay at Windsor Great Lodge or wherever, etc.
If anyone wants a juicy look at the Andrew/Fergie breakup–Fergie Confidential was a book written around the time of their separation, by Chris Hutchins and Peter Thompson,its available as an e-book and it was really good. The moving party behind the split was totally Fergie, which makes it even funnier how she fawns over her Handsome Disney Prince Andy all the time.
does the book mention that she has been Andrew’s beard since they started dating?
@crtb– haha NO it doesn’t mention that… I always thought Andrew was straight–have never even heard rumors otherwise …
It seems he was just using her for publicity. And let’s face it, as far as a romantic relationship, I don’t think anyone really takes her seriously considering her history.
Hmm if the ages were reversed would the headline still read the same?
That aside she’s always seemed a bit crazy to me. She reminds me of my eldest sister. 🙄
Exactly what I was thinking, if the age were reversed this would be called an “age appropriate” relationship and the ma would be even having accolades for choosing a mature woman,”only” 8 years younger than him.
a bit of a sexist headline
I will give Prince Andrew this: he has supported her consistently for years and he has been the perfect ex-husband. Better than she deserved.
You don’t think it was blackmail? She knows a lot of shadiness about Andrew..and as far as the DOC “bringing her in from the cold”, it’s like the pot calling the kettle black, isn’t it?
She looks a rough 56.
Andrew is disgusting.
Didn’t she have other things in her life besides just this man? You’d think she would have learned a thing or two along the way.
She is always so desperate for a man and too flighty. Now, too old. She hasn’t changed since she was tossed out of the RF thirty (?) years ago. She really needs a good therapist.
Too old? Thanks, from a 57-yr-old!
Interesting that your average Brit or any other EU citizen has to live in Switzerland for FIVE YEARS before they can apply for premanent resudency. I’m not even talking about full citizenship, that takes TWELVE years.
But old Fergie can demand residency after 5 minutes. Just becausr she is so invaluable to mankind.
That just irritates me no end.
Too bad she spent so much time in the sun (a no-no for redheads), because I think she has sun damage way beyond her actual age. The peach outfit is especially offensive. I don’t think the monochromatic look of matching hair/skin/dress works.
My mom is 55 and looks way younger than her. Poor thing isn’t aging well.
I think its a combo of too much sun/yo-yo dieting. Her skin looks elasticy in the top pic. I hope she finds happiness, despite all her drama, she doesn’t seem like that bad of a person.
I have always suspected that Sarah is really dumb. Andy too, but maybe not quite so much. Then, after the undercover video of her attempting to sell access to “Royal Andy” for a briefcase full of cash, well that confirmed it.
And somehow I just knew she was not going to age well.