Sarah Ferguson<\/a>‘s insistence her marriage to Andrew Mountbatten\u2011Windsor<\/a> was a happy partnership is being challenged by claims it served as a convenient fa\u00e7ade for alleged affairs, lies, and financial advantage from almost the outset.<\/p>\n As RadarOnline.com<\/em><\/a> reported, Ferguson, 66, and Andrew, also 66, married in 1986 after a whirlwind romance, having met just over a year earlier and become engaged within months.<\/p>\n Ferguson’s marriage is said to have been marred with dark moments.MEGA<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Their wedding, watched by millions, appeared to launch a fairy\u2011tale union at the heart of the royal<\/a> family. Yet the relationship quickly faltered, with the pair separating in 1992 and divorcing in 1996.<\/p>\n Despite the relatively brief marriage, both have long described their bond in glowing terms, and until late last year they continued living together at Royal Lodge in Windsor, presenting themselves as close companions and co\u2011parents in later life.<\/p>\n A source familiar with the couple’s early years claimed, “To the outside world, Sarah and Andrew looked like the perfect royal newly\u2011weds \u2013 smiling on balconies, posing for photographs and playing the part expected of them. But privately, the strain set in far sooner than most people realized. Those close to them could see that both were already looking beyond the marriage for emotional support and excitement.”<\/p>\n The insider continued: “For Sarah, the relationship offered a kind of safety net \u2013 it anchored her in the royal orbit and gave her the profile and stability she had never known before. For Andrew, having her by his side helped soften his image and brought a burst of positive attention at a time when the institution was hungry for feel\u2011good stories. There was genuine fondness between them, but it sat alongside frustration, distance and a level of freedom that did not fit the fairy\u2011tale picture the public was sold.”<\/p>\n Ferguson and then-Prince Andrew tied the knot in 1986.MEGA<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Ferguson has often spoken warmly about her former husband, famously describing them as the “happiest divorced<\/a> couple” after their split, and emphasizing the strength of their continued friendship.<\/p>\n She has regularly praised Andrew’s support over the years, including during her own professional ups and downs. However, royal author Andrew Lownie has now argued this upbeat picture obscures a more tangled history.<\/p>\n He said: “It had been a convenient cover and helped generate positive media headlines, but the reality is the couple very quickly after their wedding were having affairs.”<\/p>\n Lownie continued: “The only reason Ferguson continued to cadge accommodation from him was that it saved her money and burnished her royal connections and her money-making activities.”<\/p>\n Another source suggested Ferguson’s ongoing presence at Royal Lodge reflected practical considerations as much as personal loyalty.<\/p>\n One royal author claimed the pair, who divorced in 1996, cheated on one another.MEGA<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n The insider claimed, “For years, Royal Lodge was far more than just an address for Sarah \u2013 it was her foothold in the royal world. Having that kind of permanent base, and the prestige that came with it, underpinned a lot of what she was trying to do professionally and publicly.<\/p>\n “For Andrew, the setup was equally comfortable. He had a familiar companion under the same roof, someone who knew his history and routines, but without the strain or obligation of a formal marriage. It offered a sense of continuity and domestic normality that he found reassuring.”<\/p>\n They continued, “From the outside, people saw Sarah and Andrew’s living arrangements as proof that they had mastered the art of an unusually amicable divorce. In reality, it was also a highly practical solution \u2013 emotionally convenient, financially sensible and mutually beneficial. The harmony often talked about was only part of the story \u2013 the day\u2011to\u2011day convenience was just as important in keeping the arrangement going.<\/p>\n “And sitting behind it all was a bitterness on both sides: their joint history of extra-marital affairs<\/a>. Basically, as soon as they said ‘I do’ they were jumping into bed with other people.”<\/p>\n Ferguson and her ex-husbandused to share the Royal Lodge,MEGA<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\nNot So Perfect Marriage Exposed<\/h2>\n
Allegations of Affairs<\/h2>\n
![\"Ferguson](\"https:\/\/hermes.media.static.aol.com\/media\/2026\/07\/20\/49ec927e-e3f8-3705-a9a6-345e672718c2\/9c551b63-ad60-4cd7-896f-f3101c397df6.jpg\"\/)
<\/div>‘They Were Jumping Into Bed With Other People’ Author Claims<\/h2>\n
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<\/div>Finally Ending Bond?<\/h2>\n
![\"Ferguson](\"https:\/\/hermes.media.static.aol.com\/media\/2026\/07\/20\/49ec927e-e3f8-3705-a9a6-345e672718c2\/5de5941f-5a8f-42c1-b9f1-a51be7997525.jpg\"\/)
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