Sarah Ferguson begins house-hunting in Windsor as move-out deadline for her and Prince Andrew arrives amid title scandal

Sarah Ferguson is now facing a firm end date to her decades-long life at Royal Lodge, and a pressing need to find a new home. The 66-year-old author, who lost her duchess title alongside her former husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, has been quietly preparing to leave the Windsor residence following King Charles’ decision to remove all of Andrew’s royal titles and request the surrender of his lease. The move comes amid renewed scrutiny of Andrew’s past association with Jeffrey Epstein.



According to PEOPLE, a close source says Ferguson has narrowed her search and wants to remain close to the area she has called home for so long. “She’s looking for a place in Windsor,” the source told PEOPLE, adding that she and Andrew have been given a move-out deadline of January 31.





A home in Windsor would keep Ferguson within driving distance of her daughters. Princess Beatrice, 37, splits her time between her private apartment at St. James’s Palace and a farmhouse in the Cotswolds, while Princess Eugenie, 35, divides her schedule between Ivy Cottage at Kensington Palace and periods in Portugal with her husband, Jack Brooksbank.



The approaching deadline adds new urgency to Ferguson’s search. As PEOPLE previously reported, her spokesman said she has been “assessing a number of options,” stressing that no final decision has been made. The outlet also noted that recent speculation about her possibly moving into a converted barn or an annex on Beatrice’s Cotswolds property, or relocating to Portugal with Eugenie, was denied.



Instead, Ferguson is expected to build her next chapter on her own terms. A second source earlier told PEOPLE that she intends to “move forward independently” and has not requested special accommodation or property.



While Ferguson hunts for a new base, Andrew, 65, is preparing for his own relocation. He will move to a property on King Charles’ Sandringham estate in Norfolk, nearly a three-hour drive from Windsor.



Royal Lodge carries deep emotional weight for the family, hosting milestones including Princess Eugenie’s evening wedding reception in 2018 and Princess Beatrice’s intimate 2020 Windsor wedding. But questions around the residence intensified in recent years, particularly amid reports that rent had not been paid for more than two decades.

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