As pressure mounts at Windsor, the former Duchess of York is reportedly preparing for a fresh start in Portugal’s most prestigious coastal region.
Sarah “Fergie” Ferguson is said to be eyeing a £3.6 million (around $7.2 million AUD) mansion by the sea, according to new reports.
The 66-year-old, now living out her final days at Royal Lodge after receiving an eviction notice from King Charles III, has stayed out of the spotlight following the release of resurfaced emails linking her to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Why Portugal — Not Australia?
Although earlier speculation hinted that she might join her older sister Jane Ferguson in Australia, friends now believe Fergie has her heart set on Portugal — largely to remain close to her youngest daughter, Princess Eugenie.
Sources told Express.co.uk on Thursday that Eugenie, 35, is preparing a guest suite for her mother inside her own waterfront villa at the Costa Terra Golf and Ocean Club Resort.
Local Buzz About Her Arrival
A wealthy resident from the gated Melides community, about 82 miles south of Lisbon, shared: “The word here is that Fergie will be arriving sometime in January.
“How long she’ll stay is anyone’s guess but if it’s a long-term move, I can guarantee she’ll fit well into the social scene. Scores of celebrities and Hollywood stars have been snapping up properties in the area.”
A US-based regular at the resort also told the outlet’s Los Angeles correspondent Mike Parker: “It’s a perfect place for Fergie to hide out while the Epstein affair continues to rumble on in Congress.
“She will be among family and friends and well away from the hostile atmosphere she’s facing in England.”
Eugenie’s Life in Portugal
Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, purchased their upscale beachside home in May 2022. Since then, they’ve divided their life between Portugal and Ivy Cottage at Kensington Palace while raising their sons — August, four, and Ernest, two. Brooksbank currently works in marketing, sales, and promotion for a property development firm based in Melides.
Why Portugal Makes Sense
Property expert Robin Edwards recently told the People’s Channel that Portugal’s blend of privacy, warm climate, and relative anonymity makes it especially appealing for the troubled ex-royal.
“The warmer climate, as well as the lower profile and degree of anonymity that Portugal offers, could appeal to Sarah,” he explained.
Edwards noted that having Princess Eugenie nearby may also provide emotional stability and support — something difficult to find elsewhere.
Other Possible Destinations
He added that other locations could still be viable: “Switzerland would be a plausible choice, given Andrew and Fergie’s previous links to Verbier, where they co-owned a luxury ski chalet together, and the region’s discretion toward wealthy exiles.”
Switzerland and Abu Dhabi have also been mentioned as potential destinations for Fergie’s ex-husband, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, who is likewise being removed from Royal Lodge — the 30-room home they have lived in rent-free for more than two decades.
Andrew’s Future Abroad?
In late October, royal biographer Andrew Lownie — whose book Entitled details the Duke and Duchess of York’s finances and key relationships — told Good Morning Britain that the 65-year-old former prince might relocate to Switzerland or the United Arab Emirates to avoid escalating legal pressure tied to his own Epstein connections.
He even claimed that Abu Dhabi’s ruling family has already arranged a residence for him if he chooses to move, saying: “I’ve got a picture of the palace in Abu Dhabi.”
