Sarah Ferguson spotted in Austria after 213 days as pressure mounts over Jeffrey Epstein links

Sarah Ferguson has emerged in Austria after months out of the public eye, as scrutiny intensifies over her links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The former Duchess of York, 66, had not been publicly seen for 213 days before she was photographed at a luxury Alpine ski resort, where she is believed to have been staying quietly amid mounting pressure for her to address questions from US lawmakers.

Ferguson has been urged to provide evidence to Congress regarding her “close personal and business ties” to Epstein, who died in prison in 2019. She has not publicly responded to those calls.

The Sun published images of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s former wife looking sombre as she stepped out of a blacked-out Mercedes people carrier near a chalet in a quiet Austrian ski village. Wearing a blue coat and carrying a teal raffia tote bag, she kept a low profile with her distinctive red hair tucked beneath a white baseball cap.

Her appearance comes after months of speculation about her whereabouts following the release of the Epstein Files, which included emails between the pair.

A source told The Sun, “Fergie has been keeping an incredibly low profile while high up in the Alps.

“She hasn’t been seen for a long time and has clearly wanted to keep it that way. Her choice of outfit when she popped out was obviously carefully chosen to help her avoid being recognised.

“The area is absolutely beautiful and it’s very quiet most of the time, so it’s the perfect place for a high-profile figure such as her to lie low when the heat is on.”

Ferguson had not been officially seen in public since attending the Duchess of Kent’s funeral at Westminster Cathedral on September 16. A week later, she was photographed driving out of her home at Windsor’s Royal Lodge, before making what was believed to be her final sighting in December, when she appeared to hide in the back of a car while arriving at the christening of her one-year-old granddaughter Athena at St James’s Palace.

Questions about her movements intensified after she and Andrew were evicted from Royal Lodge earlier this year, sparking speculation about where she had been living.

The former royal, who wrote the memoir Finding Sarah, is said to have been laying “false breadcrumbs” to avoid being tracked.

Sources claim Ferguson has been staying in a £2,000-a-night ($A3,779) ski chalet in the Austrian Alps and rarely leaves the property.

In February, she shut down six of her businesses within three days, prompting further uncertainty about her future direction.

Disgraced Andrew was arrested on February 19 on suspicion of misconduct connected to his relationship with Epstein, further intensifying scrutiny surrounding those linked to the late financier.

A source said, “The Epstein Files have hit like a sledgehammer and Sarah has not wanted to be seen by anyone. She’s been effectively in hiding and can’t face up to what’s been happening, the publication shared.

“She’s been laying false breadcrumbs to stop people following her trail and very few people were allowed in on the secret.

“But she’s seen Andrew arrested and read all the headlines about the Epstein investigations and knows it’s a very grave situation.

“While she knows the scandal is not going away, she effectively has her head in the sand and has taken the decision to hide away for as long as possible.”

The source added, “Sarah lost her home when she was evicted from Royal Lodge and has nowhere else to go. She’s not invited to ­go to Sandringham to live with Andrew and even her two daughters have kept their distance.

“It’s the first time she has to fend for herself for two decades.

“She is alone but staying in a luxurious setting and is very comfortable. She rarely wants to go outside because she knows what could be waiting for her.

“But the calls for her to speak to the authorities are growing every single day — as is the speculation on where she is. She’s taking it one day at a time but the problem is, the days are now piling up and the clamour for her to speak to the authorities about Epstein and what she knows is getting louder and louder with each day that passes.”

Ferguson was also absent from the Royal Family’s Easter Sunday service this year, despite attending alongside the King and Queen in 2025. Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are believed to have kept some distance from their parents in recent months, although palace sources suggest the sisters are expected to continue attending royal events in future.