Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, is facing a whirlwind of upheaval as she prepares for a dramatic change in her personal and professional life. Once a prominent figure in the British royal family and a celebrated children’s author, Ferguson now finds herself at the center of a series of setbacks—both public and private—that have left her career and living situation in question. According to multiple reports, she is preparing to leave the United Kingdom for a fresh start in Portugal, just weeks after suffering a blow to her publishing ambitions and days after losing her duchess title.
Ferguson’s latest children’s book, Flora And Fern: Kindness Along The Way, was published on October 9, 2025. However, the book’s journey was anything but smooth. As reported by the Daily Mail and confirmed by analytics firm Nielsen, the book was withdrawn from sale and is no longer listed on Amazon as of the week before November 15, 2025. NielsenIQ Book Data told the BBC that the book was marked “withdrawn from sale” at the request of her publisher, New Frontier Publishing. The reasons behind the sudden withdrawal remain unclear, as Ferguson’s representatives declined to comment on the matter when reached by news outlets.
This publishing setback is just the latest in a string of personal blows for Ferguson. Days before the news broke about her book, she lost her duchess title—a title she had retained for nearly three decades after her divorce from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in 1996. The loss of her title was triggered when Andrew, formerly the Duke of York, relinquished his own title due to his connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a formal statement released by Buckingham Palace, King Charles stripped Andrew of his titles and officially notified him to vacate the Royal Lodge, the Windsor residence he has shared with Ferguson since 2008.
As the dust settled on these developments, attention quickly turned to Ferguson’s next steps. According to the Daily Express and corroborated by Reality Tea, Ferguson is believed to be preparing to leave the UK in January 2026. She is reportedly planning to move into her daughter Princess Eugenie’s £3.6 million mansion on Portugal’s Atlantic coast—a region often referred to as the “Hamptons of Europe.” The home, located in Melides at the exclusive Costa Terra Golf and Ocean Club, offers privacy, luxury, and a respite from the relentless scrutiny that has dogged Ferguson in recent months.
Locals in Melides are already abuzz with speculation. A wealthy neighbor of Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank told reporters, “The word here is that Fergie will be arriving sometime in January.” While the exact length of her stay remains uncertain, the move is widely seen as a bid for distance from the intense public attention and ongoing investigations related to the Epstein scandal. Friends of Ferguson have told the Daily Express that she is “exploring the possibility” of leaving the UK for a quieter life abroad, at least for the foreseeable future.
The timing of Ferguson’s move aligns with significant changes at home. She and Andrew are expected to leave Royal Lodge early next year. Andrew is reportedly set to relocate to a property on the Sandringham Estate, but no equivalent arrangement has been publicly announced for Ferguson. After living together for 17 years following their divorce, their separation in living arrangements marks a notable shift in the dynamics of their post-marital relationship.
The Portuguese villa, purchased by Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank in 2022, is more than just a luxurious retreat. The property boasts a beach club, spa, equestrian center, and access to a championship golf course—amenities that could help Ferguson maintain a semblance of the routine she enjoyed at Windsor. The area itself has become a magnet for celebrities, with neighbors reportedly including Madonna, Scarlett Johansson, Alicia Vikander, and Nicole Kidman. One U.S.-based visitor described the villa as the “perfect place” for Ferguson to retreat while attention on her personal life remains high.
Ferguson’s reported move has sparked a flurry of speculation in both the British and international press. Some observers see her relocation as a search for peace and privacy after a tumultuous year, while others view it as a strategic retreat from the glare of ongoing investigations and media scrutiny. The fallout from the Epstein scandal continues to cast a long shadow, not only over Andrew but also over those connected to him—including Ferguson.
The former Duchess’s career as a children’s author had, until recently, provided a sense of purpose and public goodwill. The abrupt withdrawal of Flora And Fern: Kindness Along The Way from sale represents a significant setback. According to Nielsen, the book had been listed as “available for sale” from November 20, just a week prior to its removal. The precise factors behind the publisher’s decision remain undisclosed, but the timing—coming on the heels of Ferguson’s loss of royal status—has fueled speculation about the pressures facing her both professionally and personally.
Through it all, Ferguson has remained silent, with her representatives declining to comment on either the book’s withdrawal or her rumored move to Portugal. The absence of official statements has only heightened public curiosity about her next chapter. For now, what is clear is that Ferguson is navigating a period of profound transition—leaving behind the familiar confines of Windsor, the trappings of her former royal life, and the professional identity she had built as an author.
As January approaches, all eyes will be on Melides, where Ferguson is expected to begin her new life. Whether her stay in Portugal proves temporary or permanent remains to be seen. What is certain is that, for Sarah Ferguson, the coming months promise both challenge and change, set against the backdrop of one of Europe’s most exclusive coastal enclaves.
In the midst of personal loss and public scrutiny, Ferguson’s story is a reminder that even those accustomed to the spotlight can find themselves seeking refuge and reinvention far from home.
