A new report has shed light on the solitary family support Sarah Ferguson is receiving as she navigates the fallout from her ex-husband Prince Andrew’s high-profile legal troubles.
Andrew and Sarah in formal attire
On February 19, 2026, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The scandal led to him being stripped of his Duke of York title and honours last year, leaving the former royal couple in an increasingly isolated position. While Andrew adjusts to his new, more modest life on the Sandringham estate after being asked to vacate Royal Lodge by King Charles, Sarah Ferguson has chosen to retreat from public life in Britain.
According to fresh photographs published by The Sun on Thursday, the 66-year-old former Duchess of York has been staying at a luxury wellness retreat in Austria. Now, a new interview in the Daily Mail reveals that her cousin by marriage, Martin Barrantes, appears to be the only family member actively offering her emotional support during this difficult period.
“I have spoken to her and can tell you that she just wants to protect her children and her grandchildren,” Barrantes told the newspaper. “We spoke around three months ago. I wanted to give her my support in a difficult moment for her, with all that was going on with the Epstein Files.”
Barrantes, the nephew of Hector Barrantes — Sarah’s stepfather from 1975 to 1990 — added that he reached out to express family solidarity. “Sarah is going through a difficult moment, and I wanted to send her our support. She is a valued member of our family. Given the situation, she seemed to be in good spirits.”
The revelation highlights the growing isolation surrounding the Yorks. While Sarah and Andrew officially divorced in 1996, they have maintained a close relationship over the years, often living together at Royal Lodge. However, recent events appear to have left Sarah seeking privacy far from the intense media scrutiny in the UK.
Her current stay in Austria marks a deliberate step away from the spotlight. The luxury ski and wellness resort where she is reportedly staying is said to cost around £2,000 per night. These latest images are the first time the former Duchess has been publicly photographed since attending the Duchess of Kent’s funeral in September 2025. She was also spotted — though her face was largely obscured — at the christening of her granddaughter Athena in December.
Sarah Ferguson walking with her late mother, Susan
Austria is a familiar sanctuary for Sarah Ferguson. In 2024, following her diagnosis with malignant melanoma, she spent two weeks recovering at the MAYRLIFE Clinic in the country. More recently, after Christmas 2025, she sought treatment at the exclusive £13,000-a-day Paracelsus Recovery Clinic in Zurich, Switzerland, remaining there until the end of January 2026.
According to the Paracelsus Recovery Clinic’s website, the facility specializes in treating “addiction, burnout, depression, anxiety, trauma, and other mental health challenges with a comprehensive blend of tailored, evidence-based therapies.” While it is unclear exactly what prompted her latest visit to Austria, the timing suggests she is continuing to prioritize her mental and physical wellbeing amid ongoing family and legal pressures.
Sarah’s desire for privacy appears to stem primarily from her wish to shield her daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, as well as her growing number of grandchildren, from further media intrusion. Both Beatrice and Eugenie have maintained relatively low profiles in recent years while focusing on their own families and charitable work.
Martin Barrantes’ comments provide a rare glimpse of familial support for Sarah at a time when many within the wider Royal Family have distanced themselves. His description of her as “a valued member of our family” stands in contrast to the increasingly cold reception she and Andrew have faced from senior royals and the public since the renewed scrutiny surrounding Andrew’s past associations.
As Prince Andrew settles into his new residence on the Sandringham estate — a significant downgrade from the grandeur of Royal Lodge — Sarah’s extended stay abroad signals a clear intention to step back from public duties and royal obligations. The couple’s titles as Duke and Duchess of York were formally removed last year, effectively ending their official roles within the monarchy.
Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York attend Katharine, Duchess of Kent’s Requiem Mass service at Westminster Cathedral on September 16, 2025
For Sarah Ferguson, who has long been one of the most outspoken and colorful members of the Royal Family, this period of self-imposed exile represents a stark shift. Once known for her vibrant personality and willingness to engage with the media, she now appears focused on healing and protecting her immediate family.
Whether this retreat will be temporary or signal a more permanent withdrawal from public life remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that in a time of significant personal and familial turmoil, Sarah Ferguson is finding comfort far from the cameras — supported, at least for now, by the quiet solidarity of her extended family through her cousin Martin Barrantes.
As the Epstein Files continue to generate headlines and Prince Andrew’s legal situation develops, Sarah’s decision to seek refuge in Austria underscores the heavy personal toll the scandal has taken on the entire York family.