Sarah Ferguson has clearly been trying to “rehabilitate” Prince Andrew’s image for some time. They still live together in Windsor, at Royal Lodge, and since Prince Philip’s passing, Fergie has been back in the royal fold. She joined Andrew at Balmoral over the summer, and she likely saw the Queen over the holidays too. Currently, Fergie and the York princesses are vacationing in Verbier, Switzerland. The NY Post says that Fergie, Beatrice and Eugenie are staying at the same Swiss chalet that Fergie and Andrew bought together, the one he’s desperate to sell to pay off his debts. The trip has a “one last holiday” feel to it, and it’s interesting that Andrew is sitting in Windsor all alone, dealing with Virginia Giuffre’s lawsuit, as his family skis and has fun in Switzerland. But, according to the NY Post, Fergie is one of the few people “inside the room” on Andrew’s defense. And Fergie believes that if she merely spins a royal fantasy about “her prince,” people will believe her and everything will be okay.
The defense team of embattled Prince Andrew has a secret member: his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson. Multiple sources told The Post that Fergie — known as Sarah, Duchess of York, since her divorce from the Queen’s second son in 1996 — is so supportive of Andrew that she has been in the room with him and his legal team during strategy sessions.
“No one from inside Buckingham Palace has been involved in Prince Andrew’s case, or even knows anything much,” said one senior royal source. “It’s really just the Duke of York, Fergie and his lawyers.”
Another well-placed source was told that Fergie was with Andrew when he met his lawyer Andrew Brettler, from top Los Angeles law firm Lavely & Singer last summer.
“Sarah is fully behind Andrew and is part of his team,” said an insider. Reps for both Fergie and Andrew declined to comment.
Andrew, who has consistently denied the claims, is surely squirming as a Manhattan federal court judge appears poised to allow Giuffre’s civil suit to move forward. Nonetheless, his greatest confidante was pictured in good spirits in Verbier, Switzerland, this past weekend. Only Andrew was missing as Fergie and their daughters — Princess Beatrice with husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, and daughter, Sienna, born in October; and Princess Eugenie with husband, Jack Brooksbank, and son, August, born last February — enjoyed a holiday at the prince’s $23 million chalet.
Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, told The Post that Andrew and Fergie are believed to have seen the queen over Christmas, although they did not share the traditional holiday lunch with her. “Andrew continues to be a source of comfort to [the queen,” he said, “although at the same time he is no doubt a considerable worry to her, due to the situation he finds himself in.”
As the couple now waits to see whether the Giuffre case will go ahead, Fergie made it clear she is now repaying Andrew’s loyalty. “None of my life is duty. It’s because I feel it,” she told the Financial Times. “I want him to come through this. I want him to win.”
Fergie is unhinged, and I’d be willing to bet that she’s hurting his case more than she’s helping. She probably IS in the room, arguing that Andrew should smear Virginia Giuffre even harder, that they should “go after” Virginia and fight tooth and nail. Fergie is fighting for her own way of life too – she doesn’t want to spend her “retirement years” out in the cold, in royal purgatory, out of favor entirely in the royal court of King Charles. Tick-tock on the Yorks.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Twitter.
Someone better hand Fergie some job applications. Is Tesco hiring? What about Marks and Spencer? Or Mcdonalds? What’s this Duchess planning on living on once Virginia Guiffre takes all Andy’s money?
Andy can get her a job at Pizza Express in Woking.
She will keep trading off of her duchess title to sell books and nick nacks on QVC.
Having her “in the room” can hardly be a good thing.
There goes his attorney-client privilege!
Came here to say the same thing. Wonder how much this will cost them in legal fees as their lawyers scramble to walk this back. Andrew just can’t stop stepping on his own feet. He is both the best and worst client ever.
Clearing the way for them to get remarried, I suspect.
Same here, I was going to post the same thing. I’m not a lawyer, but MAYBE (and please, I welcome actual lawyers to correct me), her presence could mean she is a possible co-defendant? Usually when people sue, they include “John Does” to be named later? If she is a co-defendant, then it might not waive privilege? (Again, this is speculation from a non-lawyer). I just didn’t think Andrew’s lawyers would be that stupid as to destroy privilege, so the only other thing I could think of, was “co-defendant.”
Doesn’t matter if they remarry. Anything discussed in her presence is free game.
Lol, I bet it gets even worse— how much do you want to bet he forwards all his emails to her?
Do you think Brettler is regretting taking him on? I feel like as despicable as his clients may be, he’s probably used to clients who have a sense of self preservation, instead thinking they’re protected by birthright.
Fergie likes the RF’s money and fame. She’s spent the last 35 years profiting off the RF and will likely write a book about Andrew’s case.
I know it’s not Fergie’s style but if I were her I would keep my unholy mouth shut about all things Epstein.
Anyway, if she in any way shape or form helps usher the downfall of the BRF I will laugh and laugh and laugh.
If Philip were around, he would never have allowed this. Much less have Fergie stay at Balmoral. The Queen allows it.
Stop this.
Question:
Did Andrew not go to Switzerland because he was afraid he would be served?
Is that why he refuses to leave England?
He has been served, if I’m not mistaken.
I think he is worried about being questioned by the FBI if he leaves UK.
That’s my suspicion. The FBI is out there and they want to talk to him, so he’s trying to keep out of reach.
He was served and acknowledged receipt in September.
Even if Andrew wanted to get rid of Fergie, he can’t because she knows all his secrets. I think she still loves Andrew but she’s knows they can’t be together because he’s a pedophile.
They were not pining away for each other all those years. She likes staying at the mansion and I doubt there is anything between them anymore, except their co parenting their children.
They probably have an open relationship. I remember when Fergie got snapped with her toe-sucking lover b/f the divorce she said that no one was being deceived. I took that to mean that each was free to engage in outside “activities”. Also, wasn’t she benefitting financially from the whole Epstein association? I recall reading that Epstein “lent” her money at some point, then when he was exposed as a paedophile she scrambled (borrowed?) to pay him back and apologized. I’d like to give her the benefit that she and Andrew had an open relationship but that she didn’t know Andrew was allegedly (according to the lawsuit) sexually abusing underaged sex trafficking victims. Her full-throated defense of him (instead of shutting up and awaiting more information), says otherwise and, as stated so succinctly by another poster, smacks of self-preservation at all costs (although for the life of me I don’t know how she doesn’t realize there’s no coming back for him—no matter how much the British media try to help him and detract by smearing Meghan Markle). The daughters are smart to shut up.
Eugenie, Beatrice… take a good HARD look at your mother and the predicament that she’s gotten herself into. Learn from her mistakes. Don’t live your lives depending on royal support. Make your own money. But your own houses. Set up your lives OUTSIDE the royal system. At least you have husbands with real jobs. I recommend you get your asses back to work too. Because as soon as granny dies, Charles and William will be coming for your asses. They will cut your purse strings and throw your asses out in the name of a slimmed down monarchy.
they should also look at Sophie and Edward as well–do they really want to be standing like children with their hands out to get their allowance every Sunday? Because Chuckie and Will-di Amin are going to make the York Princesses grovel for money just like the Wessexes do.
The York princess are not working royals and don’t get any money from the crown.
It feels like both princesses are trying to do that. They married commoners who didn’t take titles upon marriage. Bea and Edo just bought a home in the Cotswolds and both have jobs. Eugenie and Jack might live at Frogmore, but they have jobs and pay rent. I wouldn’t be shocked if they buy a property once Harry’s lease is up.
Don’t they live in a free housing? Beatrice and her husband have a cottage/apartment in on one of the Palace grounds and Eugenie took over at Frogmore Cottage (and I’m sure they’re not making her pay for it, like with H&M). I think they do a few “engagements” on behalf of the Queen and for that they get to live for free. Mummy’s favorite would have it no other way (they’re blood princesses, you know!).
@Cady – they likely pay the Sussexes rent as they took over the lease. Frogmore isn’t a freebie.
@Cady – Also, I think Prince and Princess Michael lived at Kensington Palace rent-free for decades, and they are not working royals. They also get to use their “HRH” titles for their private businesses. This came out when the royal family (and the British people) showed their hypocrisy and racism against Meghan and Harry.
Is “tequila ambassador” a “real job”
Probably more of a job than being Duke of York at the moment.
Yes, brand ambassador is an actual job. But I’m sure it’s more than that. PR and marketing and such.
If it’s paying the bills, I’d say yes, it’s a “real” job. Is it super secure or going to last forever, who knows? But Jack does seem like the type who is willing to put his head down and do some work, which is more than can be said for quite a few in the BRF.
If “royal expert” is a real job, why not?
All jobs are real jobs, all labor is real labor. I weirdly know someone who is a brand ambassador for a small liquor company and it’s basically a combo sales and account manager position, which exist at every major corporation.
@equality-
“If “royal expert” is a real job, why not?”
Love your comment.
Though I think brand ambassador is a more real of a job than “royal expert”.
He no longer works for cosamigo
We’ve heard the “tick,” just waiting for the “tock.”
Off-topic but every time I see that hat with the “wings” on the back I am reminded of Inspector Gadget. On-topic, I’m with other commenters here, Fergie needs to keep quiet. Epstein’s dirty money paid some of her debts and she appears utterly shameless about that. Blackmail and sex-trafficking money.
I would be in the room, too, if i were her bc if it will save Andrew, he will find a way to pin his entire relationship with Epstein on Fergie and the money she “borrowed” from him. No one is safe when the BRF is in trouble. That being said, she gets what she gets. She married Andrew and surely has no illusions about him anymore.
Can’t disagree with that. It’s the married-ins that always get thrown under the bus.
Fergie is as dumb as a box of hair. The idea that she could help with legal strategy is laughable.
Attorney-client privilege protects communications between a client and his attorneys … unless there’s another person in the room. She’s not his wife anymore and she’s a likely witness, so David Boies can depose her and ask her about those meetings with Andrew’s lawyers.
Announcing this was not smart.
Boies would have questioned her about it anyway during a deposition.
Well there is an interesting turn of events. Not surprising, as these people are not rocket scientists.
I posted above, but if there’s a lawyer reading this one who can answer, is privilege destroyed if Fergie is a co-defendant? I assume the lawsuit named “John Does” and “Jane Does” too? So if Fergie is a potential co-defendant, can’t they visit the lawyer together without destroying the privilege? It just seems like Andrew’s lawyers couldn’t be THAT stupid/careless with privilege.
Privilege would not be restored if Fergie were added to the lawsuit as a co-defendant. Privilege isn’t something that can be retroactively reinstated— once it’s gone, it’s gone. (There’s a bit more nuance to it, but that’s the gist.) Kind of like how if a confidential document is leaked, you can’t redesignate it as confidential and order people to erase it from their minds: it’s out there for good.
Virginia filed her lawsuit against Andrew only— there are no Jane/John Does. If she wanted to add Fergie as a defendant to the current matter, she’d have to amend her complaint. However, Virginia is suing Andrew based on his sexual assault when she was 17; Fergie did not sexually assault her. If Virginia wanted to bring a claim against Fergie, she would file another lawsuit independent of the one against Andrew.
Wanted to add a bit more— even if Fergie had been named as a co-defendant from the start, I doubt that Brettler would have taken her on as a client. No matter how loyal Fergie might be to Andrew, Brettler would not risk a potential conflict of interest between his clients.
Also, as an attorney, you can give as much advice as you want, but at the end of the day the client chooses whether or not to take it. I suspect this isn’t a matter of Andrew’s legal team being reckless— this is probably a matter of Fergie demanding to be included in the meetings and Andrew demanding she be allowed to sit in. They can’t lock her in a closet and throw away the key to keep her from joining.
Client makes the calls. Andrew chose to waive privilege. Whatever the consequences of that choice are on him.
@LaraW – Thank you! I learn so much on this site!
With her in the room, the two of them are truly the team of Dumb and Dumber.
This.
Love the details about how buckingham palace knows nothing about this and has no part in this whatsoever. So if it all goes south, blame Fergie.
If you’ve called in Sarah Ferguson to try to win back your reputation, you are beyond screwed.
I mean, she has had experience with legal troubles, so that tracks, I guess. 🤷🏻♀️
Fergie is not his spouse, but an EX spouse, and not covered by any marital privilege. What if she was called as a witness because of her loan from Epstein? She clings to Andrew and acts like they’re still married because she probably has no where else to go. So bizarre.
And if they had a QUICK marriage, so she could not testify against him, that would make things even worse. I doubt the Queen would allow it.
Of course the queen would. All she cares about his her precious pedophile son. Re-marrying Fergie protects him as she is the one person whose testimony would be the most dangerous to Andrew.
They could be secretly married. Andrew is no longer among the first 6 in line for the throne so he doesn’t need the Queen’s permission. And does anyone doubt she would deny him without Philip around to threaten to cut him off?
Andrew is so far down the line of succession that he doesn’t need his mother’s approval to get married. That they have been cohabitating for many years would provide some cover to a remarriage.
One question though… can she be compelled to testify about things that she heard/witnessed before they remarried?
If they marry it would be a total farce. IMO. I doubt they are “in love” anymore, they are using each other.
Marital privilege only applies to the time period the individuals were married. Fergie and Andrew divorced in 1996; Andrew sexually assaulted Virginia in 2001. Fergie and Andrew remarrying now would be useless.
And let’s not forget the visits she and Andrew went on to Pedo Island via the Lolita Express. Several visits. Once including their daughters.
My guess: if called to testify, she’ll plead the Fifth.
The fifth amendment only applies to SELF incrimination— you cannot invoke it to withhold information about someone else. She can plead the fifth if there is potential that her testimony would expose HER to criminal liability, but simply traveling and staying at an island isn’t a crime, no matter how unsavory the individuals you’re flying with may be.
Fergie has been looked after by Andrew for years after the divorce. She lost her money and he gives her a place to live. But that said, she should stay out of it.
Fergie has made a lot of money in the US since her divorce and would have traveled there to promote her book if this hadn’t happened because she does NOT want to answer questions about it. She is always on her uppers and is heavily reliant on ex for money and accommodation. With the implacable Duke of Ed dead she imagined a remarriage and back on tax payers gravy train with PA but she must be sweating enough for both of them now. Both have brains the size of malteasers but even they must realise that their inheritance from Queenie could be entirely swallowed up in legal fees and a huge settlement,
Yes, she is apparently terrible with money. Spends it like water on unnecessary stuff. She has made a LOT of money in the US – unfortunately she’s spent even more. This is a typical story from back in 2010:
“The scene is the Neiman Marcus department store in Dallas, Texas, and the Duchess of York has settled comfortably into a chair in the Gift Gallery to be interviewed by a local newspaper journalist.
So comfortably, in fact, that she breaks off the interview to inquire from a passing saleswoman how much the chair would cost her to buy.
The saleswoman: ‘Do you have a Neiman Marcus account?’ Fergie: ‘No.’ Saleswoman: ‘Do you want one?’ Fergie: ‘Yeah! Let’s open it. Then I can put the chair on the account.’
Within minutes, Fergie has bought the chair to give to a friend as a present. The price: a mere £1,300. Yes, this is the same Fergie who is facing financial meltdown.”
Hmm. Make Andrew foot the legal bills & settlement money. That likely will wipe out his inheritance, and make it easier to control him. Charles can ship him off to a modest estate and give him a small allowance. I’m glad the daughters have their life sorted out, although they might be supporting their mummy soon.
She definitely has compulsive shopping disorder. She used to go on shopping sprees to Paris, Milan, etc. and she’d literally buy out the stores. She’d buy the same shoe in umpteen different colours, and clear the racks of everything she could squeeze into. I guess she’s going to have to have a garage sale soon.
Shortly after Sarah was busted for accepting money for access to PA, she did and excruciating six-part series with Oprah called Finding Sarah Ferguson (2011). Viewers had the pleasure of following her on her ‘journey of self-discovery’.
Yeah, well, I guess we know how that turned out.
BP’s hands-off approach puzzles me as this case will affect the monarchy like nothing else but they seem content to know as little about it as possible.
“she knows where the bodies are buried” is a quote from a tabloid article years ago (which regrettably I didn’t save) about why Fergie was kept around by Andrew. And how much do you bet this amoral scrounger sells anything and everything to PM, the Fail, et al?
Wasn’t Fergie supposedly completely supportive and on board before and after Andrew’s train wreck of an interview?
Truly, they deserve each other.
PS – found the Fail article doing a Google search for “she knows where the bodies are buried Sarah Ferguson” from 23 May 2010 by Christopher Wilson and it goes on to say “there are many revelations yet to surface regarding [Andrew’s] so called ‘bachelor’ lifestyle.” In case there’s any doubt about what the Fail knew over a decade ago…
Of course they need to get their stories straight. She could be charged with impeding an investigation and/or perjury if it ever came to that.
Ok, this article is screamingly funny. First of all, Fergie (aka Sarah, Duchess of York) has never made a good decision in her entire life. And while her dear beloved loyal Andrew is squirming at Windsor, Fergie (aka his greatest confidante) is having a grand time with her entire family in the heavily indebted Swiss chalet he’s trying desperately to sell in order to cover his legal fees. Meanwhile, Andrew (aka the defendant) is a constant source of comfort to the Queen, when she isn’t worried she’ll have to shell out millions because he’s a lazy, broke-ass pedophile.
If she keeps talking like this and the case goes to trial she’s going to find herself subpoenaed, and spousal privilege doesn’t apply because they’re not actually married. Unless this is a desperate ploy to get remarried and secure her position?
Fergie knows where the closets are. I agree the lawyers need to be sure that Andrew and Fergie are on the same page, and Fergie is special.
There are plenty of distractions courtesy of Rothmere and Murdoch. I’m pulling for Virginia. Pedophilia and trafficking must end.
Andrew will have a grand inheritance from Brenda and already has received from both granny and Pops. He is far from broke. Fergie cannot make it in this world without him.
And he probably will get to keep all his titles, and will get to wearing the uniforms again. I can see that happening.
But Fergie did teach Meghan how to curtsy, the kindest act a member of the royal family did for her, apart from Harry.
Fergie is desperate and it shows. She has to be tired, geez she is always doing something dumb but its always been about the $ for her because she does not have her own.
I had no idea they still lived together, Wow!
Y’all, the pressure is building! Andrew is going down! I’m getting a total Legends of the Fall feeling here…no one gets out unscathed, anyone connected to/dependent on this dynasty is going to be affected by this crime. Queenie, Anne, Chuckie, the Keens…they will all try to distance themselves by sacrificing a few but this may be a fatal blow to the monarchy.
From you mouth to God’s ears, Call!