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Daily Mirror
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
The brutal fact that caused Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's divorce
On what would've been the royal couple's 39th wedding anniversary, the Duchess of York has revealed the brutal reality of marrying into the Firm, and how it destroyed her marriage with Prince Andrew On July 23rd 1986, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson tied the knot in Westminster Palace - 39 years ago today. Despite announcing their separation in 1992 after six years of marriage, the couple are a perfect example of an amicable divorce, as they remain major presences in each others lives, publicly supporting each other through turbulent times. The couple first met as when they were children, before being reunited as adults while attending Royal Ascot in 1985, with the meeting reportedly orchestrated by the late Princess Diana. Less than one year after they met, Prince Andrew proposed in Scotland on his 26th birthday. Speaking to Good Morning America in 2021, Fergie once shared that their wedding day was "the best day of [her] life". She explained: "He is a great man and [our wedding day] was the best day of my life,' adding: 'I would do it all over again because he was a very good-looking sailor, but I fell in love with him and I think love conquers all." Shortly after marrying into the R oyal Family, Sarah began to see the cracks in her relationship due to the overwhelming pressure and responsibilities put upon her husband. Speaking to US TV host Ernie Manouse in 2010, the Duchess of York said: "My deal was that I was marrying my man, who happened to be a prince and a naval officer. But what I got was not the man, I got the palace and didn't get him. For our marriage, I saw him 40 days a year." As well as his royal duties, Prince Andrew had a 22-year career in the Royal Navy and served as a helicopter pilot during the 1982 Falklands War, and also commanded the mine countermeasures vessel HMS Cottesmore. After announcing their separation in 1992 and officially finalising their divorce in 1996, the couple co-parented their daughters Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice and aimed to keep their lives as normal as possible, often appearing together at major family events. In a piece for the Sunday Times, the Duchess of York explained why she continues to stay at Royal Lodge in Windsor with her ex-husband: "I travel a lot and I've always been able to make wherever I am home. 'If I am staying in a hotel I have the same family photographs and scented candles around me. When I'm in the UK I'm lucky enough to stay at Royal Lodge. I wouldn't call it my home as that would be presumptuous." Their set-up may appear strange to some people, but they have been dubbed 'the happiest divorced couple in the world ' by their eldest daughter, Princess Beatrice, with Sarah echoing the sentiment in an interview, saying: "We always say we are the most contented divorced couple in the world. We're divorced to each other, not from each other." Sarah has also stood by her ex-husband during his many controversies in recent years, as all Prince Andrew's military appointments were suspended after he stepped back from public duties in 2019, following the controversial BBC Newsnight interview about his association with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. The late Virginia Giuffre sued the Duke of York for sexual abuse in August 2021, as she claimed stated Andrew had sex with her when she was 17 and had been trafficked by his friend, the billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The duke has repeatedly denied the claims, and he has not been charged with any criminal offences.
Daily Mail
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The Queen's gift that turned into a disaster revealed: How a lavish wedding gift for Fergie and Prince Andrew ended up bringing the late monarch to her breaking point
He has spent the past year trying to persuade his disgraced brother Prince Andrew to move out of Royal Lodge, in Windsor Great Park, where he has lived for the past two decades, since the death of the Queen Mother in 2002. The King has cut Andrew's private security and £1 million allowance in a bid to encourage him to move into nearby Frogmore Cottage, the former home of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, which is more modest and easier to guard. But now a new Channel 5 documentary, reveals that the late Queen Elizabeth II was equally pushed to breaking point by her favourite son, when he and the Duchess of York were building their first marital home, Sunninghill Park. And she finally cut off the purse strings after the bills for the 30-bedroom mansion, which, in a twist on JR's Dallas ranch Southfork, became known as SouthYork, spiralled out of control, topping their budget of £250,000. Speaking on the programme Fergie, Andrew & The Scandal of SouthYork, author Andrew Lownie, who has written a biography about the couple, Entitled, said: 'The Queen, I think, eventually put her foot down and said, you know, this is crazy. 'At that point, they hadn't built the swimming pool and the tennis court, and who knows whether the helicopter pad was there then either.' It is now almost half a century since Prince Andrew married Sarah Ferguson on July 23, 1986, in front of 2,000 guests at Westminster Abbey, including celebrities such as Sir Elton John and Michael Caine. The wedding list reputedly totalled £1.5million and more than 2,000 gifts were received from all over the world. They were temporarily stored in the Buckingham Palace Ballroom. Top priority for the couple was to find their marital home, which was a wedding gift from Queen Elizabeth. But the couple could not find anywhere to meet their exacting demands. Finally, the Queen offered them the site of Sunninghill Park, a 5,000-acre estate with lakes, woodlands and gardens, which sat on the edge of Windsor Great Park, four miles from where Andrew now lives. The 18th century house, which was requisitioned by the American Ninth Air Force squadron of fighter pilots during World War II, had been earmarked for a young Princess Elizabeth and her fiancé, Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten after their 1947 marriage. But during renovations, a workman in the library dropped a cigarette and the whole building went up on flames. Despite dozens of firemen battling to save the mansion, it was razed to the ground. Work began on the newbuild – the first Royal newbuild since Bagshot Park in 1879 – but immediately attracted controversy over its design, by architect Dunbar Naismith, which was more American ranch than English stately home. 'They tweaked and reshaped the designs over and over again, much to the frustration of their architect, said Talk TV's Royal editor Sarah Hewson. 'When Prince Philip, never one to mince his words, saw the plans, he described it as looking like a 'tart's bedroom'.' Fergie then caused a huge uproar by commissioning the American designer Sister Parrish, who had designed the White House, to decorate Sunninghill Park. She got a quote for £1 million and handed it to the Queen, who complained that the price was too high, forcing her to switch to the British designer Nina Campbell, who had designed London hotspot Annabel's. She was reportedly given a budget of £250,000 – almost half a million today – to cater for the couple's long list of demands, which included a panic room, cinema room, helipad, swimming pool and tennis courts. However, their extravagant designs spiralled out of control and broke the couple's budget. At that stage, midway through 1990, the Palace refused to pay any more. 'By this stage, Sunninghill Park was proving to be a financial headache,' added Hewson, 'in particular, for the Queen, notoriously financially prudent who was having to foot the ever-escalating bills.' Instead of accepting the decision, Fergie looked around to find another way to earn the money. She came up with another way to fund her dream home, inviting Hello! magazine in to do a lavish photoshoot. They were paid £200,000 for a 45-page spread, which led to them being derided over their taste: the house was filled with teddy bears, cushions with trite slogans, personalised toilet holders including one that sang God Save The Queen.' The Yorks moved in to the house in October 1990 and threw a huge housewarming party with a jungle theme with waitresses in leopard skin and fake animals in the bushes 'Fergie had a very enterprising idea that she would do a photoshoot for Hello!' said Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine. 'Nobody in the royal family had ever done a shoot like that.' 'Although the Queen never commented publicly on it, she was less than pleased,' added Hewson. 'She saw it as lacking decorum that it was an invasion of privacy. Prince Philip, he just thought it was downright tacky and distasteful.' The Yorks finally moved in on October 5, 1990, throwing a huge housewarming party with a jungle theme. There were fake animals popping out of the bushes, waitresses in leopard skin and Elton John performed Your Song. Andrew and Sarah mingled with guests including Billy Connolly, Pamela Stephenson David Frost and Imran Khan, before slow dancing on the dance floor. However, the couple's marriage was already on the rocks as Andrew, who was a lieutenant in the Royal Navy, was stationed at sea and Fergie was stranded home alone with Princesses Beatrice, two, and baby Eugenie. Within 18 months, after Fergie was caught having an affair with American playboy Steve Wyatt, Andrew filed for divorce and the SouthYork dream was over. Fergie, Andrew & The Scandal of SouthYork is on Channel 5 on Saturday July 26 at 8pm.
Sky News AU
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
‘The pinnacle': Disturbing new details about Prince Andrew's ties to Jeffrey Epstein amid ‘birthday album' revelations
Prince Andrew was asked to contribute to Jeffrey Epstein's notorious 50th birthday album containing 'bawdy' letters, an insider has claimed. The infamous leather-bound birthday album, compiled by Epstein's then-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell in 2003, included heartfelt letters to the late financier from his closest friends. The Duke of York was allegedly asked by Ms Maxwell to write a letter for Epstein, but it is unclear if Andrew actually contributed to the album or not. According to a source who spoke to the Mirror newspaper, Epstein was especially proud of his friendship with the Duke of York. "Jeffrey ... always saw Andrew as the pinnacle of his pals, and Ghislaine made sure he was asked to contribute,' the source said. "(Ghislaine) framed it as a celebration of Jeffrey's brilliance, his generosity, his supposed unique mind. 'She made it sound like an honour to be included." During their friendship, which spanned from the 1990s until after Epstein's prison sentence for child prostitution, Andrew was a highly respected working royal and British trade envoy. Andrew, 64, regularly stayed in Epstein's New York City townhouse and was also a frequent visitor to Epstein's private island of horrors. The Duke of York's public downfall came after allegations of sexual abuse by Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre resurfaced, which resulted in Andrew settling a multi-million dollar civil suit in 2022. Andrew admitted no wrongdoing and now lives as a virtual recluse inside Royal Lodge after resigning from his public roles in May 2020. Maxwell, who introduced Andrew to Epstein, was convicted of child sex trafficking and other offences relating to Epstein and is now serving 20 years in federal prison.
Edinburgh Live
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Prince William's 'honest feelings' about Prince Andrew after Kate Middleton issue
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Prince William has reportedly held resentment towards Prince Andrew due to the Duke's supposedly less than warm reception of Kate Middleton in her early days with the Royal Family. Royal commentator Richard Kay has indicated that the way Andrew supposedly welcomed Kate could play a significant role in his possible eviction from Royal Lodge. Richard suggests that the Prince of Wales' 'grudge' toward the Duke of York goes back to how the latter treated Kate when she first joined the Royal family. Following a notorious BBC Newsnight interview in 2020 surrounding his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, Andrew withdrew from public duties, but the friction between him and William allgedly persists. Early in 2022, Buckingham Palace revealed that Prince Andrew had returned his military titles and Royal patronages to the Queen, reports the Mirror. An FBI investigation into his links to Epstein has since been dropped. It's been claimed that William was instrumental in Andrew losing his office at Buckingham Palace and has been adamant about excluding him from royal engagements. There's also speculation that William might influence King Charles to move Andrew out of the Royal Lodge. Royal journalist Richard Kay, speaking to the Mail Online, noted that William has "long held a grudge" against his uncle and thinks that Charles has treated Andrew too leniently. (Image: AFP via Getty Images) The author wrote: "Differences between monarch and heir do remain, especially when it comes to the Prince Andrew scandal. William has long held a grudge against Andrew for being unwelcoming when he first introduced the then Kate Middleton to the Royal Family and feels that his father has been too soft on him. "It has led to speculation that it is William who is pushing his father to evict the Duke of York from Royal Lodge, so the Waleses could move in." Royal writer and commentator Tom Quinn told The Mirror: "For King Charles, forcing Andrew to move to Frogmore solves several problems at once - it sends a message to Harry that, as a private citizen and no longer a working royal, he will never be allowed back to Frogmore. "It sends [a] message to Andrew that having disgraced himself, he can no longer expect to live in the grand style. And, finally, it means that a suitably grand residence can be made ready for the royals who really matter - William and Kate. "Charles is determined that Royal Lodge is the only residence on the royal estate at Windsor that is big enough and regal enough for his heir." The question of whether the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will relocate to the Royal Lodge remains uncertain, but a source close to the couple has previously mentioned that "taking on Royal Lodge would mean a transformation in the way they lead their lives". The source added: "One of the main reasons why the couple are so content at Adelaide Cottage, their current home in Windsor Great Park, is because it is a family house and there are no live-in staff. "Moving into the vast Royal Lodge would mean having to accommodate domestic staff, something they have long resisted."
New York Post
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
How Prince William's ‘firm' decisiveness will change future of the monarchy — and who he'll banish
As the modernization of the monarchy continues to be at the forefront of Prince William's mind, the royal has one thing under his sleeve that will ensure a successful reign: decisiveness. The Prince of Wales, 43, has been planning his ascension to the throne since becoming heir following his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II's death in September 2022. The future king, who has long championed a leaner monarchy, is reportedly crafting his own blueprint for the next generation of working royals. 5 Prince William is a 'shrewd operator,' according to a royal photographer. Getty Images And according to royal photographer Helena Chard, the prince has a strict rule of thumb for troublesome members of the Firm from here on out. 'Anyone who poses a threat to the monarchy is banished,' Chard told Fox News. 'Prince William is a shrewd operator and stands firm in his decisions.' Case in point, William has reportedly decided that his scandal-scarred uncle, Prince Andrew, will not be returning as a working member of the royal family once he becomes king. The Prince and Princess of Wales reportedly see the disgraced Duke of York, 65, as a 'threat' to the Firm. 5 The future king, who has long championed a leaner monarchy, is reportedly crafting his own blueprint for the next generation of working royals. / What's more, William even refuses to explore the premise of allowing him to return to public-facing duties. 'He is committed and determined to do his best for the future of the monarchy. And his mind is made up,' Chard told the outlet. 'His scandalous uncle is viewed as a black cloud. Future public royal duties are off the cards. If allowed, Andrew will likely bring further reputational damage to the monarchy at a time when the royal ship needs a careful steer.' 5 Prince Andrew will not be returning as a working member of the royal family under Prince William's reign, according to insiders. 5 While Charles is by no means happy with Andrew and his frequent messy conquests, the King has reportedly given up trying to evict him from the Royal Lodge. Getty Images 'Prince Andrew will not have a formal role in Prince William's future modernized, streamlined, monarchy,' she added. The current monarch, King Charles, has taken on a similar — yet more relaxed — approach to his brother. While Charles is by no means happy with Andrew and his frequent messy conquests, the King has reportedly given up trying to evict him from the Royal Lodge. Still, when it comes to royal events, Andrew's participation is very much scaled-back. 5 The Prince of Wales, 43, has been planning his ascension to the throne since becoming heir following his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II's death in September 2022. POOL/AFP via Getty Images Last month, the duke was excluded from the Garter Day ceremony for the fourth consecutive year. The royal snub took place just days after the Trooping the Colour ceremony — an event Prince Andrew did not participate in, nor did his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
