Sarah Ferguson Desperately Turning to Sister Jane to Save Her Life After Jeffrey Epstein Fallout

Sarah Ferguson is facing the most uncertain chapter of her life as the fallout from her links to Jeffrey Epstein continues to close doors at home, with sources telling OK! she is increasingly relying on her sister Jane Ferguson Luedecke for emotional support and contemplating leaving Britain altogether.

The 66-year-old former Duchess of York's future has become a pressing question since her former husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, 65, was stripped of his royal roles along with her, and is set to be relocating to a privately funded property on the Sandringham estate.

While Andrew's arrangements appear settled, Ferguson's next move remains unresolved, with growing speculation she may seek refuge far from the U.K. and the relentless scrutiny that has followed her for months.

The renewed turmoil stems from the resurfacing of correspondence between Ferguson and Epstein, the late financier and convicted s-- offender, in which she referred to him in 2011 as a "supreme friend." The revelation jarred with her previous public insistence she had cut ties with Epstein, prompting renewed criticism and deepening her isolation within royal circles.

Against that backdrop, Luedecke has emerged as a crucial figure. Ferguson's older sister, who lives in Australia, recently traveled to Britain to support her during what sources describe as an emotionally destabilizing period.

One royal watcher said the visit was less social than protective. "Jane did not come over for a routine visit," one insider added. "She was seriously concerned about how Sarah was coping and felt she needed to be physically present, with her visit viewed by some as potentially life-saving for Sarah, as she is now sinking into depression. With so many parts of Sarah's old life falling away at once, Jane's role has been about grounding her and making sure she does not feel completely unmoored."

One royal expert suggested Australia could offer Ferguson an escape route.

They said: "Jane traveled over specifically to support Sarah during a very dark period and has floated the idea that she could start again close to her in Australia. Sarah has long felt an affection for the country and its people, and there is a sense that she might be more warmly received there than in Britain right now."

Those close to Ferguson say the idea has been discussed seriously as she weighs how to rebuild her life away from the 31-room, $40 million Royal Lodge estate, which she has shared with Andrew for years despite the pair's divorce decades ago.

Another source said: "Remaining in Britain means Sarah is constantly pulled back into the same cycle of headlines and judgment."

"Australia is seen as a place where she could step out of that story, regain some privacy, and simply exist without every move being scrutinized," they added.

The insider added Ferguson has felt increasingly cut adrift after a string of charities dropped her as a patron and social invitations evaporated.

Any move abroad would come at a heavy personal cost. Ferguson is deeply close to her daughters, Princess Beatrice, 37, and Princess Eugenie, 35, as well as her grandchildren. Friends say the thought of living thousands of miles away from them has been agonizing.

One insider said: "Sarah feels pulled in two directions. So much of who she is now revolves around her daughters and grandchildren, and the idea of putting an ocean between them causes real pain. Ferguson has spoken repeatedly about the joy her grandchildren bring her, once describing that stage of life as precious, joyful, (and) exciting."

Those sentiments, sources say, are now in tension with a desire to escape a country where she feels judged and diminished.

"She is acutely aware that being away from her family would be painful, and she does not take that lightly," one palace aide confided. "At the same time, there is a growing recognition that she may need to prioritize her own well-being if she is going to get through this period."

For now, Ferguson remains in Britain, leaning heavily on her sister's counsel and the loyalty of an ever-shrinking inner circle. Whether she ultimately chooses to follow Luedecke to Australia or attempt a quieter existence closer to home, those around her say the priority is stability.

"Questions of privilege or lifestyle no longer matter to her," one source told us. "What she is looking for now is a place where she can exist quietly, without constantly feeling pursued by old controversies."