If there’s one royal relationship that truly refuses to be boxed into a neat beginning-middle-end narrative, it’s that of (former Prince) Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson’s.
What started off as a whirlwind romance quickly spiralled into years of scandal, separation, financial drama and a post-divorce closeness so intense it still confuses everyone. Plus, add in recent allegations that the pair are both facing in relation to Jeffrey Epstein, and the whole thing is kind of... a huge mess. (Note: both have admitted it wasn't a great look to be associated with convicted sex offender Epstein, but have denied any further wrongdoing in relation to his many other alleged crimes).
From toe-sucking headlines to cohabiting exes and an enduring loyalty that borders on baffling, here’s the deeply messy timeline of Andrew and Fergie, with dates and receipts...
June 1985: They meet via Princess Diana
Although the pair had previously met as children, Sarah Ferguson and the then-Prince Andrew reunited as adults thanks to Princess Diana – a close friend of Fergie’s. Diana invited her pal along to a lunch at Windsor castle following the Ascot races, and it’s said that she and Andrew soon noticed a spark.
17 March 1986: A right royal engagement
After proposing to Fergie on his 26th birthday (19 February 1986), the couple make the news public. It is reported that there are some harsh royal words exchanged about it all behind-the-scenes, as Andrew apparently did not ask his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, for permission prior to popping the question. Oops!
23 July 1986: The Westminster Abbey wedding
Andrew and Sarah marry at Westminster Abbey in a globally televised ceremony. Sarah becomes the Duchess of York overnight and is instantly dubbed 'Fergie' by the press. She’s charismatic, outspoken and very much not your average royal wife.
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8 August 1988: Princess Beatrice is born
Their first daughter, Princess Beatrice, arrives. Outwardly, the couple appear settled, but Andrew’s naval career keeps him away for long periods, while Fergie struggles with scrutiny from both the palace and the tabloids.
In 2010, when reflecting on this era, Ferguson said to TV host Ernie Manouse, "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... and the courtiers told me I had to go to Buckingham Palace and he had to go to sea. For our marriage, I saw him 40 days a year."
23 March 1990: Princess Eugenie is born
Their second daughter, Princess Eugenie, is born. Behind the scenes, the marriage is already under strain. Fergie later describes feeling isolated, unsupported and criticised for not fitting the royal template.
She would later describe how she felt punished for being outspoken, scrutinised for her weight and criticised for misunderstanding rigid protocol.
19 March 1992: Separation is announced
Andrew and Sarah officially announce their separation, almost six years to the day that they told the world they were planning to wed. At this point, it’s framed as amicable — a line that will not age well. The year will go on to be famously branded as an 'annus horribilis' (latin for 'a horrible year') by the Queen.
August 1992: That toe-sucking scandal explodes
Paparazzi photographs emerge of Fergie topless on holiday in France, having her toes sucked by American financial adviser, John Bryan, by the side of a swimming pool. The images are splashed across newspapers around the world and all hell breaks loose.
The fallout is brutal: the Duchess of York is effectively ostracised from royal life and it's reported by royal biographers that Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth's late husband, and Princess Margaret, Andrew's late aunt, told her she had "done more to bring shame on the family than could ever have been imagined."
30 May 1996: Divorce is finalised
After four years of tabloid carnage, the divorce is final. Sarah loses her HRH title but retains Duchess of York. Crucially (and unusually) the split does not end the pair's closeness.
Late 1990s–2000s: The extremely blurred boundaries era
Despite being divorced, Andrew and Sarah continue holidaying together, co-parenting and living together at Royal Lodge in Windsor. Their dynamic becomes a permanent source of fascination and speculation.
During a Daily Mail interview in 2015, Ferguson said, "Andrew and I, we’re the happiest divorced couple in the world – extraordinary, really, isn’t it. We live in the same house, but then, it’s a big house, so that’s ok. But I think it’s really good that we believe in compromise and communication and compassion. And family."
May 2010: The cash-for-access scandal
The Duchess of York is secretly filmed by Mazher Mahmood, who also posed as the 'Fake Sheikh' to dupe singer Tulisa, and is seen offering access to Andrew in exchange for £500,000. Ferguson later insisted she thought that in doing so, she was helping Andrew to resolve a financial issue and apologised for a "serious lapse in judgment" and said "the Duke of York was not aware or involved in any of the discussions that occurred. I am sincerely sorry for my actions."
November 2019: Andrew’s reputation implodes
As allegations relating to Jeffrey Epstein gain global attention – and the royal is accused of having sex with Virginia Giuffre when she was 17-years-old and trapped in a sex trafficking ring organised by Epstein and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell – Andrew’s public standing deteriorates rapidly. He steps back from royal duties following his disastrous Newsnight interview in November 2019, in which he again denies any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein and/or Giuffre. Fergie remains publicly loyal throughout.
January 2022: Andrew's first titles are stripped amid the Virginia Giuffre lawsuit
On 13 January 2022, it was announced that Andrew will return his military titles and royal patronages to his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, amid a civil sexual assault lawsuit launched by Virginia Giuffre; a woman who accused Andrew of having sex with her at the age of 17, while she was a victim of trafficking at the hands of Epstein.
The lawsuit was settled on 15 February 2022 without admission of guilt and Andrew has continued to deny any allegations of wrongdoing.
22 September 2025: Sarah Ferguson is also embroiled in the Epstein scandal
British newspapers published leaked emails from April 2011 in which Sarah Ferguson reportedly described convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as a “steadfast, generous and supreme friend,” despite previously publicly disowning him. The resurfaced correspondence sees at least seven charities cut ties with her as a patron or ambassador.
Fergie says she only sent the message upon the advice of her legal team, in an effort to avoid being sued for libel by the billionaire.
6 May 2023: Andrew is sidelined at King Charles III’s coronation
In May 2023, Andrew is formally excluded from any public role at his brother King Charles III’s coronation, appearing only briefly in procession and seated away from working royals. He takes no part in official events, underscoring his continued exile from royal life following the Epstein scandal and lawsuit settlement.
Sarah Ferguson does not attend the coronation at all. The moment is widely interpreted as confirmation that Andrew is no longer considered a functioning member of the royal family.
October 2025: No more Duke and Duchess of York
Buckingham Palace issues a statement confirming that King Charles III has initiated the formal process to remove Andrew’s final remaining royal styles, honours and titles, dictating that he will now be known publicly as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
The Palace also confirms that notice has been served requiring Andrew to vacate Royal Lodge, the Windsor property he has shared with Ferguson for years, amid continued fallout from his association with Jeffrey Epstein.
While no official directive has been issued regarding Ferguson’s title, it is speculated that when Andrew's 'Duke of' was revoked, her courtesy 'Duchess of' title went with it – and Fergie has now removed it from her social media accounts, swapping her X account handle from @SarahTheDuchess to @sarahMFergie15.
Reports suggest the pair are preparing to leave the residence, with Ferguson said to be exploring alternative living arrangements, including potentially relocating closer to one of her daughters. The move is widely seen as a final effort by the King to distance the monarchy from Andrew following years of scandal.
Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
