The bond between Sarah Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has intrigued the public for a very long time. Despite their split, the ex-couple went on to share a home for years, which also earned them the title of “the happiest divorced couple.”

One of the main triggers for their divorce was Sarah’s desire to work commercially, which was off-limits for the royals. Yet she made a choice that surprised everyone— she decided to not take a large payout from Queen Elizabeth II.

Sarah Requested Only The Monarch’s Ongoing Friendship

Rather than asking for wealth, Sarah wanted to maintain a bond with the monarch. During a 2007 interview with Harper’s Bazaar, she talked about asking for “friendship, not money.”

“When I met with Her Majesty about it, she asked, ‘What do you require, Sarah?’ and I said, ‘Your friendship,’ which I think amazed her because everyone said I would demand a big settlement,” Sarah recalled. “But I wanted to be able to say, ‘Her Majesty is my friend.’”

Sarah highlighted how her priority was warmth and trust rather than money. She refused to let legal battles affect her deep respect for the Queen.

The couple separated in 1992 after Prince Andrew’s naval duty kept them apart for all but 40 days a year across their first five years. Their divorce was finalized in 1996.

“I still see, love, and admire [the Queen.] I didn’t want a divorce but had to because of circumstance,” Sarah shared. She called that period “the most painful time of my life.”

Her confession also revealed that external demands, and not a loss of affection, drove them apart. She felt forced to step away, but still had deep devotion for the queen.

Sarah Ferguson’s Living Arrangements After Divorce From Andrew

Immediately after the split, Sarah lived at Sunninghill Park with their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. After that, she rented a home in Windlesham, Surrey. By 2008, she moved back in with Andrew at Royal Lodge in Windsor, where they stayed until he moved to the Sandringham Estate in early 2026.

In his book Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, royal author Andrew Lownie stressed that their living together was surprisingly distant.

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“Sarah had her own set of apartments at the opposite end of the house, and although they did meet and speak on the phone, I don’t think there was much contact. There was always this rather cynical idea that he was her calling card for business and seeing members of the royal family,” Lownie wrote.

The author also noted that their living arrangement was more about independence and social access than romance.

Over time, Sarah created distance as Andrew faced public disgrace. After Andrew gave up his title and honors, a source told HELLO! that Sarah would “always support her former husband’s decisions and do anything for the King,” noting that, “For her, this will not make a big difference.”

As of now, Andrew lives quietly at Marsh Farm on the Sandringham estate, whileSarah travels and stays with friends and visits European health clinics.

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