What Led To Prince Andrew's Split With Sarah Ferguson? Spent Only 40 Days With Wife In 5 Years

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's divorce was another topic of interest for royal fans. However, despite the divorce, Sarah remains a pillar of strength for Prince Andrew.

By Ekta Chanana Last Updated: Feb 19, 2026 | 18:59:43 IST

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Prince Andrew is in the headlines for all the wrong reasons again. The UK police have arrested him due to his ties with the Epstein Files. While he is going to be interrogated in the matter, all eyes are on his relationship. Prince Andrew had a troubled first marriage with Sarah Ferguson. It was reported that infidelity was the main reason for their separation, but despite it, Sarah remained a pillar of support for Andrew even after their divorce. Read on to know more about them! 

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Who is Prince Andrew?

Prince Andrew is the brother of King Charles, born on February 19, 1960. He has been hailed as a prominent member of the Royal family. Not only this, but he had served for 22 years in the Royal Navy. He was also part of the Navy during the Falklands War in 1982, where he piloted helicopters. He left the Navy in 2001 and started his royal duties. However, his reputation declined after his association with Jeffrey Epstein. He had to step back from his duties in 2019. Later, he was stripped of his titles, royal tags, and his role declined in the royal family. 

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How did Prince Andrew meet his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson?

Prince and Andre first met each other when they were toddlers. They were three years old when they played together in polo fields. Sarah's father was a retired army major and was also the polo manager for Andrew's brother, King Charles. However, it was in 1985, when they were reintroduced by Princess Diana (the first wife of King Charles). 

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Princess Diana was related to Sarah, and she believed that they would look amazing together. The couple quickly felt a connection, and within months, their relationship turned serious. In 1986, Andrew proposed marriage to Sarah with a ruby and diamond engagement ring, which was an ode to her red hair. Their romance made headlines, and everyone was in awe of the couple. 

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Prince Andrew married Sarah Ferguson on July 23, 1986, at Westminster Abbey in London. The two were bestowed with the titles of Duke and Duchess of York. It was a grand wedding which was witnessed by millions worldwide. The early years of their marriage wasn't prefect. However, Sarah warmly greeted the public; she was even subjected to media scrutiny as she was compared to Princess Diana. In 1988, they welcomed their first daughter, Princess Beatrice, and in 1990, they were blessed with another daughter, Princess Eugenie. 

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Problems in Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's marriage 

Their relationship, which started with roses and everything lovey-dovey, faced the toughest challenges. The main issue was Andrew's naval service, which kept them apart for months. As per reports, during the first five years of their marriage, they had spent only 40 days together. Sarah even talked about feeling lonely in the marriage due to Andrew's absence. At the same time, she struggled with the pressure of society that kept pointing out her flaws. 

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Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's divorce reason

After being together for 6 years and having 2 kids, Sarah and Andrew legally parted ways in March 1992. According to Sarah, the primary cause of the separation was Andrew's naval duties, which took up most of his time. In an interview with Harper's Bazaar, Sarah shared that she had spent only 40 days with him during the first five years of their marriage. Later, Sarah claimed that she didn't want to divorce Andrew, but she had no choice. She wanted to work, and it was not allowed for a princess of the royal house to work outside. She said:

"I didn't want a divorce but had to because of circumstance, I wanted to work; it's not right for a princess of the royal house to be commercial, so Andrew and I decided to make the divorce official so I could go off and get a job."

What do you think about Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's divorce?

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