Sarah Ferguson has fallen into what friends describe as “depths of despair” following the arrest of her former husband and renewed attention surrounding documents linked to financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The 66-year-old former Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, is reportedly struggling with the reputational fallout from her recent appearance in court documents, and friends describe her as being in a state of emotional distress.
At the same time, her family and associates express concern about the psychological toll of the controversy.
Sources speaking to the Daily Mail claim Ferguson feels isolated and believes the world is “out to get her”.
Read more related news:
Former Sun editor warns Fergie ‘is up to her neck in all this’ as police probe Andrew
“She is very, very down… some people, including Sarah herself, are worried for her mental health,” a friend said, highlighting her current emotional struggles.
“What she doesn’t appear to feel is remorse… she just wants this all to go away and allow her to get on with her life. Her head is in the sand.”
The remarks come as public attention intensifies following the arrest of Ferguson’s ex-husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was detained by police on suspicion of misconduct in public office before being released under investigation.
The controversy has reportedly also caused emotional strain within the royal family, highlighting the personal toll on its members.
Ferguson’s daughters — Princess Beatrice, 37, and Princess Eugenie, 35 — are said to be “utterly horrified” and “very distressed” by developments surrounding their father.
Royal author Ingrid Seward suggested the sisters may be forced to confront difficult questions about their family history.
She said the situation could prompt personal doubts, “All the doubts will have come crashing in — those holidays they had as children, the funds their father put in their bank accounts, all the lovely things they enjoyed.”
“Somewhere in their minds, they’ll be wondering where that money really came from.”
Seward added that the sisters may begin questioning aspects of their father’s past, including the origins of his wealth.
The arrest of Mountbatten-Windsor has triggered wider investigations stemming from the release of millions of documents from the Epstein case, which have revealed ongoing legal scrutiny of the royal family and Epstein’s network.
British police forces, including the Metropolitan Police and Thames Valley Police, are reviewing material relating to alleged trafficking networks and flight movements associated with Epstein’s associates.
Authorities have also been examining whether London airports may have been used to facilitate exploitation or human trafficking, working alongside US law enforcement partners.
The investigations remain ongoing, emphasizing the seriousness of the inquiries and encouraging the audience to stay informed about potential developments.
The scandal has reignited debate about the monarchy’s long-term public standing.
Some commentators warn that the combination of historical allegations, police inquiries, and the release of archived documents could continue to dominate media coverage for months.
Supporters of the royal institution argue that allegations must be proven in court before concluding, stressing the importance of due process.
Epstein was a US financier who became the centre of global criminal investigations following allegations of sexual exploitation involving high-profile figures.
The latest document releases have prompted renewed international interest in the network surrounding him.
