Princess Eugenie is reportedly readying a guest suite in her luxurious £3.6 million villa in Portugal amid growing signs that her mother, Sarah Ferguson, may be preparing to leave the UK. According to new reports, the princess and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, want the space ready in case the Duchess of York decides to retreat to Europe for an extended period.

The story was first revealed by Mike Parker to Express.co.uk, stating that Sarah could be planning to spend significant time at their property. Eugenie and Jack purchased the home in May 2022 at the upscale Costa Terra Golf and Ocean Club in Melides, where Jack works. Since then, they have divided their lives between the oceanfront residence and Ivy Cottage on the Kensington Palace estate.

Speculation around Sarah’s move has intensified as pressure grows at Royal Lodge, the Windsor home she still shares with her former husband, Prince Andrew. The fallout from Andrew’s association with Jeffrey Epstein continues to cast a long shadow, fueling rumours that he may soon relocate to Sandringham. Andrew has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing related to his involvement with Epstein.

Friends close to Sarah have reportedly expressed concern about her state of mind. Royal commentator Phil Dampier revealed that those around the Duchess fear she is reaching breaking point. He explained that her older sister, Jane, recently flew in from Australia to support her during what has been described as a period of severe emotional strain.

Sarah’s reputation took a serious hit years earlier when emails emerged showing her speaking warmly about Epstein, despite his conviction for child sex offences. In a message from 2011, she appeared to apologise to him after publicly declaring she had ended all contact. The email stated that he had always been a steadfast and generous friend to her and her family.

These exchanges took place after Epstein’s 2008 conviction. Sarah had previously insisted she would never have anything to do with him again. A spokesperson later clarified that the message had been written under legal advice in an attempt to calm Epstein after he issued threats.

Reports from that period also suggest that Epstein instructed his lawyers to push back against an interview in which Sarah distanced herself from him. He allegedly told them she should publicly claim she had been misquoted and went on to boast about her past visits and requests for help with charitable projects.

Even with the explanation that her email was written under pressure, the damage to Sarah’s public image has been considerable. The controversy has raised uncomfortable questions about Epstein’s connections to members of the Royal Family and has left Sarah struggling under the weight of renewed scrutiny.

Amid this turmoil, the possibility of a quiet refuge in Portugal appears increasingly appealing. Princess Eugenie’s preparations suggest that the option is not only being considered but actively planned for, as the Duchess faces yet another challenging chapter in her public and private life.