Setting a royal precedent! Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson’s marriage may not have worked out, but the pair still consider their life with daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie to be their happily ever after.
Andrew and Ferguson, known as Fergie by the public, split in 1996 after 10 years of marriage, but they have remained as close as can be. In fact, the exes’ tight-knit friendship has sparked reconciliation rumors throughout the years.
In August 2013, reunion rumors swirled after the pair’s mutual friend told the Telegraph that the former couple “will remarry” in “a matter of time,” as “they are a wonderful couple and, better still, pretty amazing parents.” However, Fergie’s rep shot down the report, telling Us Weekly at the time that she and Andrew “are the best of friends.”
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s son fueled romance rumors with Fergie again in March 2019 after the pair traveled to Bahrain together with Beatrice and her now-husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. Even so, after the weekend getaway, Fergie’s rep told Us that she and the prince “remain good friends, as they have been for many years, and nothing has changed.”
The duo have stayed a united front for their daughters and for the benefit of the British royal family. They have attended many regal functions together, including Prince Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle in May 2018, and they sat beside each other as Eugenie wed Jack Brooksbank in October of that year.
Ferguson continued to stand by Andrew’s side after he made headlines for his alleged association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in November 2019. Following sexual assault accusations by Virginia Roberts Giuffre — which the prince denied — he stepped back from his senior royal duties. (Andrew settled his lawsuit out of court in February 2022.)
“It has become clear to me over the last few days that the circumstance relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein has became a major disruption to my family’s work and the valuable work going on in the many organizations and charities that I am proud to support,” the duke said in a November 2019 statement. “Therefore, I have asked Her Majesty if I may step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, and she has given her permission.”
At the time, a source exclusively told Us that Andrew’s daughters were “really upset” about the public scandal. “They believe their dad made a huge mistake in judgment ever being associated to Jeffrey Epstein,” the insider explained. “The girls are leaning on each other and are being really supportive of their dad.”
Meanwhile, Ferguson took to social media to show her support for her ex-husband. After wishing Andrew a happy birthday in February 2020, she later shared a family photo in honor of International Family Day. “I am so proud of our united loving family,” the duchess wrote via Instagram in May 2020.
Scroll down to revisit everything the royal exes have said about their divorce, coparenting and remaining close friends:
In March 2011, one month before Prince William married Duchess Kate, Andrew admitted to Sky News that he regretted not better fully preparing Fergie for royal life: “I would like to think that lessons have been learned because, my goodness, some lessons did need learning.” Tim Graham/Getty Images
“He’s a great man and a first-rate father and the bestest friend,” the philanthropist told Harper’s Bazaar in October 2011 of the former Royal Navy officer. “I love him. He’s my soulmate. It’s actually what we said in front of God at the altar: We honor and respect each other until death do us part. … I really was in love. We were both madly in love.” Indigo/Getty Images
The What I Know Now: Simple Lessons Learned the Hard Way author reflected on her union to Andrew while speaking at the bath Children’s Literature Festival in September 2013. “We had a very beautiful wedding. … He really still is my handsome prince. We really believe in being good parents for our girls,” she gushed. “It’s lovely that we are such a family and the story has a happy ending all the time.” John Shelley Collection/Avalon/Getty Images
During an August 2014 interview with CNBC, Andrew explained that he and Sarah stay close “more for the family than anything else” and it would be “illogical” for them to not get along. Tim Graham/Getty Images
Family comes first! “A table goes best with four legs. A table can’t stand on three legs, really, so you have the duke and I, and the two girls,” Fergie explained to Hello! In September 2017. “We’re family unit and we lead by example. We support each other emotionally and we support each other health-wise. At least every two weeks, we sit down together and communicate, the four of us.” UK Press/Getty Images
Fergie still feels like she and Andrew got their picture-perfect ending. “We’re the happiest divorced couple in the world. We’re divorced to each other, not from each other,” she told the Daily Mail in November 2018. “[My wedding day], July 23, 1986, was the happiest day of my life. Andrew is the best man I know. What he does for Britain is incredible. No one knows how hard he works for his country. Of course, we’re human, Andrew and I, but when we walked through the door, we never brought our adult problems to the children. This is always our rule.” Samir Hussein/WireImage
Fergie and Andrew are committed to staying friendly for their daughters’ sakes. The Finding Sarah: A Duchess’s Journey to Find Herself author told Good Morning America in February 2019 that she and Andrew, who is seventh in line to the royal throne, are “very solidified as a team together.” She also praised her ex-husband as “a great father.” Ian Nicholson - WPA Pool/Getty Images
In 2021, Ferguson broke her silence after her ex-husband stepped down from his royal duties. “Whatever challenges he has, I will stand firm to the co-parenters that we are together," she told People at the time. "I believe that he’s a kind, good man, and he’s been a fabulous father to the girls." Tim Rooke/Shutterstock
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