Sarah Ferguson has yet to publicly comment on her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, giving up his royal title amid ongoing scrutiny over his longstanding friendship with the late convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein — but she has made a subtle change in the aftermath.
Eagle-eyed royal watchers were quick to notice that Ferguson, 66, changed her handle on X from @SarahTheDutchess to @sarahMFergie15. Ferguson previously used the title Duchess of York because of her past relationship with the disgraced royal family member.
Ferguson and Andrew, 65, married in July 1986 and welcomed two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, before their May 1996 split. The former couple have remained close in the years after their divorce, and are often spotted together at several public appearances.
Andrew announced on Friday, October 17, that he would be giving up his royal title as his past with Epstein continues to make headlines. The former Duke of York is reportedly under investigation for allegedly asking his personal security to uncover information about his late accuser, Virginia Giuffre, before her April 2025 death. Giuffre, who died by suicide at age 41, has posthumously released a memoir, Nobody’s Girl, only adding to Andrew’s PR troubles.
“In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family,” Andrew shared in a statement. “I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life.”
Andrew initially stepped back from his public duties in 2019 after Giuffre accused the former duke of sexual assault in 2001 when she was underage. Andrew has continued to deny the accusations made against him.
“With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further,” his statement on Friday continued. “I will therefore no longer use my title or the honors which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”
Giuffre eventually sued Andrew of sexual abuse in 2021. They settled outside of court the following year for an undisclosed amount of money. Giuffre’s book was released on Tuesday, October 21, and details the alleged sexual assault she faced at the hands of Andrew and Epstein.
Giuffre claimed in the book that she was forced to have sex with Andrew on three separate occasions when she was 17 and 18 years old. The first took place in London, where the photograph of Giuffre and Andrew was taken by Epstein.
“My mom would never forgive me if I met someone as famous as Prince Andrew and didn’t pose for a picture. I ran to get a Kodak FunSaver from my room, then returned and handed it to Epstein,” she claimed in the book. “I remember the prince putting his arm around my waist as Maxwell grinned beside me. Epstein snapped the photo.”
During one of their encounters, Giuffre claimed that she had an alleged “orgy” with Epstein and Andrew.
“The other girls all appeared to be under the age of 18 and didn’t really speak English,” she claimed. “Epstein laughed about how they couldn’t really communicate, saying they are the easiest girls to get along with.”
