Sarah Ferguson, Prince Andrew Split Had Nothing To Do With Royal Family

Prince Andrew, Sarah Ferguson — Pictured: Prince Andrew, Ferguson attend the Virgin London Marathon on April 25, 2010 in London, England. on April 25, 2010 in London, England. Getty Images/Gareth Cattermole

Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew decided to go their separate ways years ago, and their decision wasn’t influenced by the royal family.

Contrary to rumors, the Duke and Duchess of York didn’t also divorce due to Ferguson’s toe-sucking scandal. During a previous interview, the mom of two told BBC presenter Michael Parkinson that there are two reasons why she and the father of her children decided to go their separate ways.

“Because, I suppose, I ran up a lot of debts and I needed to get out of work. You can’t be a member of the royal family and work in this country,” Ferguson said.

Parkinson asked Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie’s mom if that’s the reason why she divorced Prince Andrew. At first, Ferguson seemed to hesitate before saying that she and her ex-husband had their fair share of differences.

“We, as you know, are really steadfast in our parenting to our two girls, Beatrice and Eugenie – who are 13 and 15 years old. They certainly show with their confidence and security, which they have now, that our unity in our parenting has worked… I think that’s very important,” she said.

Five months after announcing their separation in 1992, Ferguson was embroiled in one of the biggest scandals in the history of the royal family. While vacationing in St. Tropez, she was photographed canoodling with Texan millionaire John Bryan.

After the controversial photos were released by the media, Ferguson’s relationship with the royal family went downhill. Multiple royal experts have claimed that Prince Philip never forgave Ferguson for what she did and for the shame that she brought to the British clan.

In the years following the scandal, Queen Elizabeth II didn’t also talk to Ferguson. But since the two female royals have a unique relationship with each other, Her Majesty soon forgave Ferguson for her mistake.

Ferguson reunited with Prince Philip and the Queen publicly at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding, as well as the wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank last year.