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.