Sarah Ferguson Makes Rare Public Appearance Alongside Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie After Months Away

Sarah Ferguson has made her first public appearance in months, stepping out alongside Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie for a memorial service in London. Her return comes after an extended period away from the spotlight, following the loss of her royal title and renewed scrutiny over her past association with Jeffrey Epstein.

The former Duchess of York, 67, joined her daughters at St Paul’s Church in Knightsbridge on Thursday, 30 October, to remember motor-racing tycoon Paddy McNally. The gathering also included Beatrice’s husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Eugenie’s husband, Jack Brooksbank, and Peter Phillips, the son of Princess Anne.

Photographs published by the Daily Mail showed Sarah arriving in a blue lace blazer, appearing in good spirits as she looked towards the cameras. Beatrice and Eugenie, who were also dressed in navy blue, accompanied their mother at the service.

Sarah’s First Public Appearance in Months

Sarah’s appearance at the memorial marks her first sighting since April, when she was photographed at a luxury resort in the Austrian Alps. It also appears to indicate that she has returned to the UK after spending several months abroad.

• Last Public Engagement: Sarah’s previous major public appearance was at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral at Westminster Cathedral in September 2025.
• Departure from Royal Lodge: In October 2025, she was required to leave Royal Lodge in Windsor, where she had been living with her former husband, Andrew.
• Family Occasion: In December, she attended the christening of Athena, Princess Beatrice’s baby daughter, although she was only photographed inside a car.
• Time Abroad: Sarah was subsequently reported to have spent time across Europe, including Switzerland, Austria and possibly Portugal.

On 16 April, The Sun photographed Sarah at a resort costing approximately £2,000 per night near the Mayrlife Medical Health Resort in Altaussee, Austria. Wearing a blue coat and white baseball cap, she was seen briefly before disappearing from public view again.

Reports also suggested that she had been staying at a Swiss Alpine chalet in Verbier, while other accounts claimed she travelled to Portugal to visit Eugenie and meet her youngest daughter, Adelaide, who was born in August.

Sarah’s Relationship with Paddy McNally

The memorial service also brought renewed attention to Sarah’s longstanding connection with Paddy McNally, whom she dated during the 1980s.

• Their Relationship: The pair ended their romantic relationship after Paddy did not propose, but they remained close friends afterwards.
• A Personal Connection: Sarah reportedly stayed at his ski chalet in Verbier during the months following her departure from Royal Lodge.
• Beatrice’s Tribute: In August, Princess Beatrice represented her mother at Paddy’s funeral at St James’s Church in Sevenhampton, as Sarah continued to stay out of the public eye.

Sarah previously spoke about the important role Paddy played in her life, describing him as a father figure who was 22 years older than her.

“Paddy was my father figure, 22 years older than me,” she once said.

“He taught me so much about life. Whenever I wanted advice, I turned to him because he was so worldly wise. He seemed to have seen and done everything.”

Where Is Sarah Ferguson Living Now?

Sarah previously shared Royal Lodge with Andrew, but their living arrangements changed after he was required to leave the Windsor property and move to Marsh Farm on the King’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

Following her departure, Sarah also had to find a new home.

In August, The Sun reported that she had returned to Britain and was living in the Home Counties. According to the newspaper, her new residence is a gated property featuring six bedrooms, three bathrooms and a separate “granny annexe”.

Renewed Scrutiny Over Sarah’s Association with Jeffrey Epstein

Sarah’s return to the public eye comes against the backdrop of continuing questions about her former friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.

The release of millions of documents connected to the late convicted sex offender last year brought renewed attention to their relationship and prompted calls for Sarah to speak to US authorities.

One email exchange reportedly suggested that she had taken her daughters to visit Epstein in the United States just days after he was released from prison for child sex crimes.

The fallout has also extended to Sarah’s business and charitable interests. According to Companies House documents, six companies linked to the former Duchess began winding down following the publication of the Epstein files.

Sarah’s Trust, the charity she established, also announced that it would close “for the foreseeable future” before shutting down in July.

Andrew has faced his own consequences over his association with Epstein, with the King stripping him of his royal titles over what were described as “serious lapses of judgment”.

Sarah’s Loss of Royal Titles and Public Honours

Sarah’s position has changed significantly since the controversy surrounding Epstein intensified.

She lost her courtesy title as Duchess of York and reverted to her maiden name. In March, York councillors also voted unanimously to withdraw her Freedom of the City of York, an honour originally awarded to her in 1987.

The council’s decision stated:

“The council resolves that, pursuant to Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972, the City of York Council withdraws the Honorary Freeman of the City status from Sarah Ferguson, which was conferred upon her in 1987.”

Sarah and Andrew had received the honour as a wedding present from the city during a visit in 1987.

Andrew’s own Freedom of the City of York had already been withdrawn in 2022. At the time, the council heard that he was the first person ever to have the distinction taken away.

Sarah’s appearance alongside Beatrice and Eugenie offers a rare glimpse of the former Duchess after months away from public attention. Her return has also renewed interest in her relationship with her daughters, her new living arrangements and the ongoing consequences of the Epstein controversy.