![\"Sarah](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_286105803-6907.jpg\")
\n\t\tSarah Ferguson and former husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tSarah Ferguson and former husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor<\/a> was \u2018more bothered about his horses\u2019 than the scandal surrounding his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein<\/a>, sources have claimed.<\/p>\n He had already been stripped of his titles and exiled from public life before his arrest this week<\/a> dragged the monarchy into its biggest crisis in decades.<\/p>\n Andrew\u00a0was held on suspicion of misconduct in public office<\/a> after allegations were made against him following the release of files related to paedophile billionaire Epstein.<\/p>\n He spent 11 hours in police custody on his 66th birthday before being released under investigation over claims he shared sensitive information with Epstein during his time as the UK\u2019s trade envoy.<\/p>\n Detectives continue to search\u00a0Andrew\u2019s\u00a0former home, Royal Lodge, in Windsor, Berkshire<\/a>, this weekend, while he remains holed up in a cottage tucked away on the King\u2019s Sandringham estate<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSign up for all of the latest stories\t\t\t<\/p>\n Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates<\/a> newsletter or get Breaking News<\/a> alerts the moment it happens. <\/p>\n Before his arrest, the disgraced former duke did \u2018nothing but complain since he got here\u2019, according to a Norfolk<\/a> source close to the family.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s extraordinary. He hardly seemed bothered about the Epstein scandal. He was much more worried about where he was supposed to keep his horses,\u2019 they told the Daily Mail.<\/p>\n \u2018He is in another world.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t A dog walker who lives near Royal Lodge \u2013 who wished to be known only as Ben, said: \u2018I think the mood of the nation is behind the fact that he should answer for whatever he\u2019s done.<\/p>\n \u2018No-one knows what (the royal family) knew or what they didn\u2019t know, but I think they\u2019ve done everything they can to distance themselves.<\/p>\n \u2018They\u2019ve kicked him out, basically, haven\u2019t they? And that\u2019s it.\u2019<\/p>\n Asked what it has been like to have the former prince as a neighbour in Windsor, Ben replied: \u2018He\u2019s not popular. But he\u2019s not popular anywhere, is he?\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t The whereabouts of Andrew\u2019s immediate family, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie<\/a>, and former wife\u00a0Sarah\u00a0\u2018Fergie\u2019\u00a0Ferguson, are unknown.<\/p>\n Friends of the latter told the Mail she is \u2018very, very down\u2019, saying: \u2018She feels deeply depressed and that the world is out to get her.\u2019<\/p>\n But they added: \u2018What she doesn\u2019t appear to feel is remorse for what has happened. She just wants this to all go away and allow her to get on with her life. Her head is in the sand.\u2019<\/p>\n Last week, it emerged that six companies linked to Fergie are being wound down in the wake of the publication of the Epstein files.<\/p>\n \t\t According to Companies House, an application to strike<\/a> off each company was filed after new revelations about\u00a0Sarah\u2019s\u00a0contact with Epstein came to light with the publication of millions of documents by US authorities.<\/p>\n In documents released last month, the former duchess appears to say to Epstein: \u2018I am at your service. Just marry me.\u2019<\/p>\n In an email exchange from September 21, 2011, she apparently wrote: \u2018Don\u2019t know if you are still on this bbm but heard from The Duke that you have had a baby boy.<\/p>\n \u2018Even though you never kept in touch, I still am here with love, friendship and congratualtions (sic) on your baby boy.\u00a0Sarah\u00a0xx\u2019<\/p>\n The email is then followed up with a message saying: \u2018You have disappeared.<\/p>\n \u2018I did not even know you were having a baby. It was soooo crystal clear to me that you were only friends with me to get to Andrew. And that really hurt me deeeply (sic). More than you will know.\u2019<\/p>\n Many of the exchanges are dated after Epstein was convicted in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a child.<\/p>\n The companies being wound down by the former duchess of York<\/a> are: S Phoenix<\/a> Events, Fergie\u2019s Farm, La Luna Investments, Solamoon Ltd, Philanthrapreneur Ltd and Planet Partners Productions Ltd, none of which appear to have been very active.<\/p>\n According to the Government<\/a> website, applying to strike a company off the register is also known as \u2018dissolving\u2019 a company, and is a way to close down a company that has not traded in three months.<\/p>\n Late last year, after she lost her courtesy royal divorcee title,\u00a0Sarah\u00a0submitted an official change to her details for all the firms from\u00a0Sarah\u00a0Duchess of York to\u00a0Sarah\u00a0Margaret\u00a0Ferguson.<\/p>\n Days after the new details emerged about the former duchess\u2019s friendship with Epstein,\u00a0Sarah\u2019s\u00a0Trust, a charity<\/a> she had founded, also announced it would close \u2018for the foreseeable future\u2019.<\/p>\n Metro has contacted a representative for the former duchess for comment.<\/p>\n Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n For more stories like this, check our news page<\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_285873499-a263.jpg\")
\n\t\tAndrew Mountbatten Windsor leaves Aylsham Police Station (Picture: Phil Noble\/Reuters)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_286103683-36f6.jpg\")
\n\t\tA convoy with police officers travels into the Royal Lodge (Picture: Reuters)<\/p>\n![\"Members](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_286107212-7b8d.jpg\")
\n\t\tMembers of the Norfolk Suffolk Hunt Saboteurs wear masks representing King Charles and Queen Camilla outside the Sandringham Estate (Picture: Reuters)<\/p>\n![\"ASCOT,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_284911021-8ec8.jpg\")
\n\t\tSarah Ferguson and Andrew pictured at Royal Ascot in 2019 (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
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