A close friend of Sarah Ferguson has revealed the real reason the former Duchess of York decided not to continue living with her ex-husband, Prince Andrew.

On Thursday evening, Buckingham Palace confirmed that King Charles had begun a “formal process” to strip Andrew — formerly known as Prince Andrew — of his style, titles, and honours. The statement announced that he will now be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

The Palace also confirmed that Andrew will vacate Royal Lodge, his long-time residence in Windsor, following ongoing fallout from his association with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The King’s brother, who continues to deny all allegations made against him, is expected to relocate to accommodation on the monarch’s private Sandringham Estate. However, his former wife Sarah, who has shared the 30-bedroom Windsor mansion with him for years, will not be joining him.

According to reports, Sarah — who has also been stripped of her duchess title — will now make independent living arrangements. Many royal watchers have speculated about the reason behind her decision, but a friend has made it clear that it was entirely Sarah’s choice.

Appearing on Channel 5’s Vanessa programme, media personality Lizzie Cundy summed it up in seven words: “She doesn’t want to live with Andrew.”

Cundy added, “Now she wants to draw the line and hopefully move on from this.” She also suggested that Sarah feels deep regret for some of her past mistakes, including her 2011 apologetic email to Epstein following his release from prison for child sex offences.

In the email, Sarah had referred to Epstein as her “supreme friend” and apologised for criticising him in a media interview. A spokesperson later clarified that the message was sent out of fear of a potential defamation lawsuit.

Speaking on the chat show, Cundy reflected: “I think she’s had a rough ride with it. I’m not saying get the violins out, but it has been tough for her. She’s made some huge, silly mistakes — and no one knows that more than Sarah Ferguson today.”

The Duchess has kept a low profile in recent weeks, following renewed scrutiny over her past ties to Epstein. It remains unclear where she plans to live once she leaves Royal Lodge, but sources suggest she is determined to start a new chapter — this time, entirely on her own terms.