A royal author has revealed that Prince Andrew plotted with the late Queen Elizabeth II to secretly smuggle Sarah Ferguson into Balmoral Castle against the wishes of Prince Philip.
The year 1992 was a notoriously bad year for the Royal Family publicity-wise.
Princess Anne divorced her first husband, Mark Phillips, part of Windsor Castle burned down and both Prince Andrew and the then Prince Charles announced their separation from their respective wives.
But the most cringeworthy incident in the year that the late Queen described as her annus horribilis was when the Duchess of York – just months after her separation – was photographed in the newspapers in a very compromising position.
Lying on a sunbed in St Tropez, Texan millionaire John Bryan was pictured kissing and sucking Fergie’s toes.
The intimate images remain some of the most embarrassing pictures of a royal ever made public and, for Fergie, the consequences were severe.
Writing in his biography, titled The Royal Insider, Princess Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell revealed that the late Duke of Edinburgh ‘banned’ Fergie from all the royal residences.
Burrell claims, against his father’s wishes the Duke of York decided to bring Fergie along with their daughters to Balmoral for a weekend.
Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson at Balmoral. A royal author has revealed that the late Queen and Andrew invited Fergie to stay against the wishes of Prince Philip
Prince Andrew and Prince Philip in 2013. Duke of Edinburgh ‘banned’ Fergie from all the royal residences after her notorious toe sucking scandal
‘Fergie was banned from all royal residences on the order of Prince Philip. On one occasion, Prince Andrew persuaded his mother to let Fergie stay for a weekend at Balmoral towards the end of Prince Philip’s life,’ he wrote.
‘Prince Philip was recuperating from a illness and convalescing at Wood Farm at Sandringham and had no idea of Andrew’s plotting with his mother.’
Andrew allegedly told his mother: ‘Wouldn’t it be nice, Mummy, if Sarah and the girls could come and spend a weekend at Balmoral? They would love it. And you would love to see your grandchildren.’
Burrell said: ‘So the Queen agreed without Prince Philip’s knowledge.’
‘Prince Philip got wind of it at Sandringham the next day and phoned the Queen immediately.’
‘I’m coming to Balmoral tomorrow and she had better be gone,’ Philip allegedly warned.
Burrell wrote: ‘What would the Queen do? She had to explain carefully to Andrew that Fergie was not able to stay in the house under the same roof as Prince Philip. So Andrew had to tell his ex-wife that she had to go.
‘She didn’t cause a fuss but simply packed all her bags and left before Prince Philip arrived so as to avoid a royal contretemps.’
Writing in his biography, titled The Royal Insider, Princess Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell Burrell claims, against his father’s wishes the Duke of York decided to bring Fergie along with their daughters to Balmoral for a weekend
Elizabeth with the Duke and Duchess of York and a young Princess Beatrice in 1989. After Prince Philip died in April 2021, Burrell claims that Fergie ‘saw an opportunity to open a door into the Queen’s world’
Balmoral castle. Once Philip got wind Fergie was at the Scottish castle, she swiftly left
After Prince Philip died in April 2021, Burrell claims that Fergie ‘saw an opportunity to open a door into the Queen’s world’.
Burrell recalls the time Andrew and Fergie bought two new puppies – a dorgi (a dachshund-corgi mix) and corgi called Sandy and Muick – for the Queen, despite Her Majesty making clear she didn’t want any more dogs.
‘The Queen was not happy. “What did I tell you all? I said that I didn’t want any more dogs”,’ Burrell said.
‘The dogs were then left after the Queen’s death in 2022. They now live with Fergie and Andrew at their home at Royal Lodge.’
After the Queen’s death in September 2022, Burrell claims that Andrew has struggled to come to terms with his place within the Royal Family.
He wrote: ‘The favourite son is probably feeling the loss of his mother more than most. Prince Andrew is the son of a monarch, a royal duke and a knight of the garter. He demands and expects respect for his position and will reprimand anyone who forgets to bow when introduced to him.’
‘The Queen was always there for her son to save him from himself and from his mistakes. He had complete access to her and used it regularly.’
Prince Philip and the Queen at Balmoral in 1972
Andrew and Fergie in 2019 at Ascot. After the Queen’s death in September 2022, Burrell claims that Andrew has struggled to come to terms with his place within the Royal Family
‘But now she is gone, what next? Well Andrew has never been realistic. He hasn’t come to terms with the fact that he is no longer a working member of the Royal Family. He grew up in a closeted situation as the son of the Queen and his whole world is a bubble.’
Since King Charles III ascended to the throne, he has reportedly clashed with his brother over use of the Royal Lodge with the King hoping the Duke of York might downsize.
Charles reportedly wants his younger brother out of the lavish £30million Royal Lodge, which has been in the family for centuries, and instead living at Frogmore Cottage, the former residence of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Located in the leafy countryside surrounded by greenery, the Royal Lodge, which Prince Andrew shares with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, is just three miles from Windsor and 25 miles from London.
Writing about Andrew’s predicament, Burrell said: ‘Charles knows that Royal Lodge is far too big, too grand and too expensive for Andrew and Fergie to occupy.’
‘Andrew is living a lifestyle which is far too grand and far too expensive for him and Royal Lodge is not befitting for his station within the Royal Family now.’
Burrell added that this is despite him being ‘well down the pecking order at eighth in line to the throne’.