Former royal butler Paul Burrell claims in his new memoir that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson’s habits caused staff fury at Buckingham Palace

A former royal staff member has revealed that one habit of Sarah Ferguson and her ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor left palace employees seething. Fergie, 66, has been embroiled in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal in recent weeks.

In a deluge of emails disclosed by the US Department of Justice, the former Duchess of York asked Epstein to “marry” her, offered to guide his clients around Buckingham Palace and even introduced her daughters Beatrice and Eugenie to him.

She is now reportedly living abroad in self-imposed exile as she weighs up her options, having left Royal Lodge at the request of King Charles.

According to former Royal butler Paul Burrell, tensions between Fergie and the royal staff had been simmering from the very start of her induction into the Firm.

In his memoir The Royal Insider: My Life with the Queen, the King and Princess, he alleged that Andrew was “besotted” with his then-new wife who could “do no wrong”.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson have become embroiled in the Epstein saga (Image: Karwai Tang, WireImagevia Getty Images)

The couple have been forced out of Royal Lodge (Image: undefined)

However, discussing the early tensions, he stated: “But the staff were up in arms early in the marriage. From the beginning, the royal newlyweds refused to leave their marital bed.

“The maids weren’t allowed to go into the bedroom to make the bed for days. When the couple did surface, they held lavish dinner, lunch and tea parties with all their friends.”

Paul, who served under Princess Diana from 1987 to 1997, claimed this led to problems with worn-out staff members who reportedly preferred adhering to established meal times.

He added: “The kitchen staff were run off their feet. Even the Queen didn’t entertain so extravagantly. The Royal chefs were furious to be making food like it was an á la carte restaurant.

Paul Burrell and Princess Diana (Image: Getty)

“They were used to serving food to the Queen and the Royal Family at set times. It was too much. The staff rebelled and protests were made to the Master of the Household who informed the Queen of her staff’s unhappiness.

“She had to intervene and put a stop to the lavish gluttony. After all, she despised waste, deciding in advance which food should be cooked for her each day. So why should Andrew and Fergie be different?”

Paul, 67, then alleged Andrew was “never easy” to work with, particularly for household staff.

The writer, who also penned A Royal Duty, initially served as a footman to Queen Elizabeth before becoming King Charles’ butler. Yet, he gained most recognition for being a trusted friend to Diana.

And in a separate section of his latest book, he disclosed the amusing two-word moniker employees had for Buckingham Palace.

Alluding to a boozing culture within the palace grounds, he stated: “It wasn’t just bed-hopping that went on in the palaces; there was a degree of inebriation which often helped people’s inhibitions.

“Forget Buckingham Palace, it was nicknamed ‘Gin Palace’ after the spirit that flowed freely through the everyday workings of the building. Gin, always, Gordon’s, was the drink of choice.”