Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson: A timeline of their relationship
It's been over 30 years since their separation, but the couple still live together in Windsor.
Nearly three decades on from their 1996 divorce, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson continue to live together at the Royal Lodge on the Windsor Estate.
According to Sarah, she’s firmly single. Speaking on her new podcast, the 63-year-old said she “doesn’t have a boyfriend” but “would like one”.
The Duke and Duchess of York first met in 1985 with the help of Princess Diana. They had a whirlwind romance before marrying in 1986 and welcoming their first child, Princess Beatrice, in 1998. A year and a half later their second child, Princess Eugenie, was born.
Two years later they announced their separation and over 30 years on they remain close friends.
Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson’s relationship - in more detail
1981: Sarah is invited to Charles and Diana’s wedding
Before meeting Prince Andrew, Sarah worked in a publishing house and was friends with Princess Diana. Sarah and Diana were friends as children and reconnected in 1980 which saw Sarah receive an invite to Charles and Diana’s 1981 wedding.
1985: Sarah and Andrew connect at an event at Windsor
In 1985, Diana is said to have recommended that 26-year-old Sarah be invited to an event at Windsor during Royal Ascot in 1985. It was here that Andrew and Sarah connected.
February 1986: Sarah and Andrew get engaged
The relationship between Sarah and Andrew moved quickly and by February 1986 they were engaged. Andrew proposed on his birthday at Floors Castle in Scotland, and the engagement was announced publicly the next month.
July 1986: Sarah Ferguson marries Prince Andrew at Westminster Abbey
Just five months after their engagement, the couple married at Westminster Abbey on July 23. They were given the titles of the Duke and Duchess of York by the late Queen.
1988 - 1990: Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are born
Sarah and Andrew welcomed their first daughter, Princess Beatrice on August 8, 1988. Their youngest daughter, Princess Eugenie, followed quickly on March 23, 1990.
1992: Sarah and Andrew officially separate and Sarah faces toe-sucking scandal
Sarah and Andrew separated in 1992 as their relationship suffered from Andrew’s absences due to his Naval duties. His career meant that the pair only saw each other for about 40 days per year, and Sarah later told Harper’s Bazaar that he only received 10 days of shore leave after Beatrice’s birth.
In August that same year, Sarah faced a scandal that would later be known as ‘toe-gate’ after she was pictured sucking the toes of businessman John Bryan while on holiday.
1996: Sarah and Andrew divorce
Despite separating in 1992, Sarah and Andrew didn't officially divorce until 1996. But, they continued to live together and co-parent.
2013: Sarah says Andrew is still her ‘handsome prince’
During an interview to promote her children’s book in 2013, Sarah said that Andrew is still her “handsome prince”, despite being divorced for over 15 years at this point. “It's lovely that we are such a family and the story has a happy ending all the time,” she added.
2018: Sarah and Andrew co-host Princess Eugenie’s wedding reception together
In October 2018, Sarah and Andrew were front and centre for Eugenie’s wedding day. Following a ceremony held at St George's Chapel in Windsor, the pair co-hosted the reception at Royal Lodge.
2019: Sarah commented on Andrew’s friendship with Jeffrey Epstein
In 2019, Prince Andrew stepped down from royal duties following his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and accusations that the prince had sex with one of Epstein’s victims - a claim Andrew has continuously denied long after a lawsuit was settled out of court.
Sarah said the time was “incredibly difficult” for their family. “To see such a wonderful man go through such enormous pain. He is the best man I know. It’s just incredible what he has done for Britain, and it’s all nonsense, so I talk about familyhood, and I’m very strong about it,” she told Vogue Arabia.
February 2021: The former spouses become grandparents
Eugenie gave birth to her first child, August, providing her parents with their first grandchild. Later that year, Beatrice had a daughter, Sienna. At the time of publication, Eugenie is currently pregnant with second child.
August 2021: Sarah describes their relationship as the ‘happiest divorced couple in the world’
While promoting her debut adult novel, Sarah said she and Andrew were the "happiest divorced couple in the world".
May 2023: Sarah responds to reports she and Andrew may need to vacate the Royal Lodge
In May 2023 Sarah denied earlier reports that said that King Charles III was making her and Andrew vacate the Royal Lodge. “Don’t always believe what you read,” she told Hello! magazine. When pushed further, she added: “I don’t know. I take every day as it comes.”
May 2023: Andrew and Sarah sit together at King Charles's coronation concert
While Sarah wasn't at the Westminster Abbey ceremony, she joined her former husband and daughters at the following night's concert in Windsor.
2023: Sarah says she ‘would like’ a boyfriend
In the first episode of her podcast, Tea Talks With the Duchess & Sarah, Sarah said she “doesn’t have a boyfriend” but “would like one”.
Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson: Read more
Sarah Ferguson is ready to share — but do we want to listen? - Evening Standard, four-min read
Sarah Ferguson reveals she has personal rule book to keep herself in check - Independent, two-min read
Prince Andrew refuses to move out of home ‘because his name is on the lease’ - Evening Standard, two-min read
King Charles has ‘no power to remove Prince Andrew from Royal Lodge’ – Independent, two-min read
