Since Prince Andrew’s forced departure from Royal Lodge, the permanent residence of Sarah Ferguson remains unknown. The former duchess, who shared the estate with her ex-husband for over two decades, has been keeping a low profile, with sources revealing that she’s coping with all matters quietly and is getting ready to embrace her independence.
© Corbis via Getty ImagesAlthough Sarah and Andrew divorced in 1996, the couple maintained a close relationship, raising their daughters Eugenie and Beatrice together. In 2015, she took a decisive step toward independence, turning a luxurious Swiss chalet in Verbie, which she purchased jointly with Andrew, into her main residence.
"She has many international business commitments and has made considerable progress. This shows she is increasingly independent," said her spokesperson at the time, as reported by The Daily Telegraph. Sarah kept a room at Royal Lodge for family visits and also rented an apartment in London’s Eaton Square.
The Swiss chalet that became her refuge
© Max Mumby/IndigoThe chalet, purchased in 2014 for approximately $24.9 million, was purchased through a joint mortgage described as a “long-term family investment.” The couple had enjoyed skiing trips there with their daughters for years before she decided to make it into her temporary permanent home.
The property is luxurious, featuring seven bedrooms, a wine cellar, a sauna, and a heated pool. Its exclusive neighborhood has high-profile neighbors like Richard Branson, James Blunt, and the Danish royal couple, Frederik of Denmark and Mary of Denmark. Sarah described the chalet to the Swiss paper Le Nouvelliste as “my home,” saying it offered a “positive energy” and space to focus on her philanthropic projects.
Despite applying for permanent residency in Switzerland in 2016, Sarah and Andrew eventually sold the chalet six years later for nearly the same price, following a dispute with the previous owner over an unpaid $9.4 million balance.
© WireImageLife before the Swiss chalet
Before Royal Lodge, the couple lived at Sunninghill Park in Berkshire, a 12-bedroom home gifted by Queen Elizabeth II for their wedding. After their separation, Sarah stayed in the property until moving to the Royal Lodge in 2008, joining Andrew and their daughters in Windsor’s grounds.
Sarah Ferguson’s move to the Swiss chalet was a statement of independence and a chance to carve out her own space while maintaining ties to her family. The space offered her a retreat from public scrutiny and a private haven for a duchess seeking autonomy and a fresh chapter out of her ex-husband’s shadow.
© Getty Images
