The former duchess knows she will “never be accepted in the UK again” and is planning to move somewhere she “will be treated like royalty”, reports suggest.

Sarah Ferguson is reportedly eyeing a move abroad as the Epstein scandal continues to dominate (Image: Getty)

Sarah Ferguson is reportedly plotting a move to a Middle Eastern country where she will “still be seen and treated as royalty”. The former Duchess of York has disappeared from the public eye since disturbing details of her friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein emerged last month. While her ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is preparing to retreat to a private home on King Charles’ Sandringham estate, Fergie’s future is less clear, and she is thought to have already fled abroad while the fallout from the latest tranche of Epstein files continues.

Ferguson has reportedly visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since stepping back from the spotlight, and friends are said to suspect her of eyeing a permanent move to the West Asian state. Andrew Lownie, who published the explosive memoir on Andrew and Fergie, called ‘Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York’, last year, said the UAE’s generally warm and uncritical view of the UK Royal Family would likely appeal to the 66-year-old.

The former couple’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein has dominated headlines in recent weeks (Image: Getty)

He told the Daily Mail: “In Britain, neither Sarah or Andrew will be socially accepted again, whatever they try to do or wherever they go. But in the Middle East, no one will care about what they have got up to.

“And even if she doesn’t have her title of the Duchess of York anymore, she will still be seen as royalty and treated as such – and she knows it.”

Emails between Ferguson and Epstein released by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) in January showed the mother-of-two updating the disgraced financier on Princess Eugenie and Beatrice’s lives and writing: “I am at your service. Just marry me.”

The exchanges were dated after Epstein’s conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor and soliciting prostitution in 2008, with one appearing to show Fergie begging to work as his assistant during a period of house arrest.

In May 2010, she wrote: “But why I don’t understand, don’t you just get me to be your House Assistant. I am the most capable and desperately need the money. Please Jeffrey think about it.”

Andrew similarly featured a number of times in the documents, including images apparently showing him crouched over an unidentified woman in what appeared to be Epstein’s New York mansion.

The former prince, who was stripped of his titles by the King last year, also appeared to have invited Epstein to Buckingham Palace and told the paedophile: “Wish I was still a pet in your family.”

Thames Valley Police also confirmed it was investigating suggestions that Andrew shared confidential reports from his time as UK trade envoy with Epstein, with Buckingham Palace relaying the King’s “profound concern” at the allegations and a willingness to “support” the police if approached over fresh claims.

Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing.