Sarah Ferguson, daughters and corgis hit by Andrew crisis

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LONDON – Sarah Ferguson, the ex-wife of King Charles III's younger brother Andrew, has been living with her ex-husband for many years. Now she will share the loss of their titles and home.

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The former Duchess of York, known as Fergie, reinvented herself as a media personality and writer after her divorce from Andrew in 1996, returning to the royal family's good graces after a period of isolation.

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She also remained surprisingly close to Andrew, calling them “the best divorced couple in the world”, living with him in his sprawling Windsor mansion and vowing to support the controversial prince no matter what.

She lost her status as duchess in early October when Andrew agreed to give up his title as Duke of York as details of his links to the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein resurfaced.

But King Charles's final decision on Thursday remove all Andrew's titles and ousting him from his 30-room Royal Lodge residence following growing anger over his alleged sexual misconduct could also be the final blow to Ferguson's reputation.

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She played her part in the fall.

In the weeks before King's 2011 decision, an email surfaced between her and Epstein in which she called him a “steadfast, generous and supreme friend” – three years after he was convicted of molesting underage girls.

Several British charities have announced they are cutting ties with Ferguson, 66, over the email. She has previously said she “never had anything to do with” Epstein and called the £15,000 ($20,000) loan the billionaire gave her a “giant mistake.”

While Andrew is set to move into a private home on the royal Sandringham estate, Ferguson will have to make all the necessary arrangements herself.

According to Times newspaper, Andrew “finally” agreed to leave Royal Lodge when it became clear that Ferguson was planning to leave.

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Ferguson, who received financial compensation as part of her divorce, has spoken candidly about her financial struggles.

She said Epstein's loan was intended to pay off her debts. In 2010, she was filmed offering access to Andrew in exchange for money.

“The Queen Speaks Through Corgis”

Their daughters Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, neither of whom are members of the royal family, look as if they could be protected from the worst consequences.

Both will retain their princess titles, Buckingham Palace confirmed.

According to Andrew's biographer, Andrew Lowney, his daughters' status was likely used to pressure the former prince to agree to Charles' terms.

“They (the royals) are probably saying now: if you want them to have a future in the royal family and be princesses, then you kind of have to make some concessions,” Lowney told AFP.

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There are also questions about the fate of the late Queen Elizabeth II's beloved corgi.

Andrew and Sarah were tasked with looking after his mother's dogs, Muick and Sandy, after her death in September 2022.

Earlier this year, Ferguson said the late queen communicated with her through dogs.

“I have her corgis. Every morning they come and go 'woof-woof' and everything, and I'm sure she's the one talking to me,” she reportedly said at the event.

According to palace sources, the corgis will continue to be cared for by the family – Andrew, Sarah and their daughters.

But it remains unclear who they will live with if (or, more likely, when) the former couple move into separate homes.

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