As the York family prepares to break up the household that has quietly bound them together for nearly two decades, private anxieties are surfacing. Princess Beatrice has reportedly urged her mother, Sarah Ferguson, to move cautiously before starting a new relationship, fearing the impact on Prince Andrew as he faces losing both his home and the daily companionship he has relied on for years. For a family already under intense public scrutiny, deeply personal choices are colliding with the pressures of royal reputation.
For 29 years after their 1996 divorce, Andrew and Sarah maintained an unconventional but steady life at Royal Lodge in Windsor, raising their daughters and projecting a united front even as Andrew’s public standing declined following allegations and the loss of his official roles. That arrangement is now coming to an end, and with it, a fragile sense of stability for all four family members.
Shifting Homes
Reports indicate that Andrew and Sarah will soon no longer share Royal Lodge, the 30-room residence in Windsor Great Park, which has long been associated with the Duke of York. Andrew is expected to move to a much smaller home on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, representing another step down in visibility and influence for a man who has already lost public roles and military patronages.
Sarah Ferguson is understood to be planning a move to the Cotswolds, possibly to a property linked to Princess Beatrice and her husband, reflecting how closely her next chapter is intertwined with that of her daughters. The dissolution of the shared household is not simply logistical but symbolic—an end to the unusual post-divorce arrangement that has defined the Yorks’ private life for years and provided Andrew with a sense of normalcy and companionship during a period of profound public reputational damage.
A Riyadh Appearance Reignites Concern
In late October 2025, Princess Beatrice hosted an event at the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh, billed as “Afternoon Tea with Princess Beatrice of York.” The appearance drew notice because of Andrew’s past role as the United Kingdom’s special representative for International Trade and Investment, during which he had contact with Saudi interests. Even routine engagements now carry the potential to reignite controversy.
Images from the event reportedly caused dismay at Kensington Palace. The Prince and Princess of Wales were apparently unhappy that the engagement risked reviving debate about Andrew’s previous activities and the controversies that had followed. In a period when the monarchy is working carefully to protect its public standing, any association that might reopen criticism of the Yorks is treated as a serious misstep rather than a minor protocol issue.
Buckingham Palace subsequently implemented a system requiring that every public appearance by Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie be cleared and vetted by senior officials. Although the sisters are not working members of the royal family, their activities are now subject to far tighter oversight, a sign of how cautious the Palace has become about triggering another round of damaging headlines.
Daughters Caught Between Parents
Beatrice and Eugenie are navigating one of the most emotionally complex periods of their lives. They are attempting to support Sarah in her desire to build a new life, possibly including a new partner, even as they worry about what that might mean for Andrew, who is vulnerable and increasingly isolated following the loss of his public duties and longtime home.
Sarah has spoken about remaining open to love and appears ready to seek companionship again after decades in a shared but non-marital partnership. She is reportedly interested in meeting someone kind, successful, and financially secure, reflecting both emotional needs and the practical realities of sustaining her lifestyle outside Royal Lodge as she rebuilds independently.
The reported plea from Beatrice to her mother not to cause further hurt to Andrew captures the emotional core of this moment. It reflects the burden carried by a daughter trying to protect a vulnerable father while not hindering her mother’s attempt to start anew.
As the year closes, the Yorks are moving into distinct lives: Andrew to Sandringham, Sarah to the Cotswolds, their daughters increasingly monitored by Palace structures. The end of their shared existence marks the closing of a long and unusual chapter.
Sources:
Marie Claire / Royal Insider reporting (November 2025)
People Magazine exclusive coverage
BBC News – Royal Lodge eviction and title removal
Express UK – Princess Beatrice Saudi Arabia trip analysis
Hello! Magazine – York family separation reporting
Palace insider accounts (multiple outlets, November 2025)