Sarah Ferguson, known for her travels around the world, is preparing for a remarkable return to the public eye, decidedly distancing herself from her ex-husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

The former Duchess of York is reportedly taking a step back to regroup. Recently, she spent some time with friends in the French Alps before heading to the United Arab Emirates.

Sarah has also been enjoying the company of her youngest daughter, Princess Eugenie, 35, who was in the region for professional reasons. Eugenie attended an art fair in Doha, Qatar, as part of her duties as a director at the art dealer Hauser and Wirth.

Despite ongoing scrutiny over her ties with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Ferguson, 66, appears to be making plans for her future. She is said to be in the process of assembling a new public relations team as she considers a return to the UK.

Insiders have disclosed that she has candidly shared with friends her need to work and earn money.

Interestingly, she has made it clear that her plans do not involve her former husband, even though she once described them as “the happiest divorced couple in the world.”

Until recently they continued to live together at Royal Lodge, Andrew’s vast Windsor mansion, a staggering three decades after their split.

Over the years the former royal has repeatedly publicly championed her former husband, describing him as a ‘kind, good man’ and a ‘fabulous father’, while neatly side-stepping the growing allegations being levelled against him.

Fergie has been spending time with her youngest daughter, Princess Eugenie, 35, (right), who has been attending an art fair in Doha, Qatar, in her role as a director at Hauser and Wirth (pictured together in 2017) 

Sarah Ferguson is plotting an astonishing comeback to public life without her beleaguered ex-husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Pictured: The former couple with their daughters Beatrice (left) and Eugenie (right)

But she is now said to have told a friend: ‘When I come back I am going to have to put some distance between myself and Andrew.’

It is understood Ms Ferguson will not join him at his new home on the King’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk, and is planning to remain ‘in the Windsor area’, where she will either buy or rent her own home.

But friends believe she is ‘kidding herself’ if she thinks she can pick up where she left off and return to any kind of normal life. 

Emails between the ex-duchess and Epstein show her repeatedly chasing him for money to pay off her debts, as well as practical support over a considerable period of time.

They contain evidence she remained in close contact with him after he was released from prison for sex offences against children, even taking her two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie, to have lunch with him five days after his release.

She also privately issued a grovelling apology to Epstein for publicly denouncing him, claiming she only did so to protect her career as a children’s author. 

She told him he had been a ‘steadfast, generous and supreme friend’.

Last week, the Daily Mail reported that friends seemed keen to emphasise the disparity in the allegations facing Ms Ferguson and Andrew. 

Eugenie is pictured with friend Caroline Daur, 30, working at an art fair in Qatar this week

While the evidence about her dealings with Epstein is deeply troubling, she has not been accused of any criminal activity – unlike the King’s brother, who has denied any wrongdoing.

Sarah is now said to be ‘deeply concerned’ about her two daughters, who have been dragged into the scandal by their parents.

At last week’s Art Basel fair in Doha, Eugenie’s friend Caroline Daur put a comforting arm around the princess as they posed for a picture, which the model later shared on Instagram. 

And while the King has moved to protect his nieces by inviting them to family events, others, it seems, are not so keen. 

A source said: ‘Sarah is upset that their names have apparently been taken off the guest lists for red-carpet and charity events.’

Regarding her return to the UK, another source said: ‘I don’t know whether Sarah is just deluded or desperate. She is 66 and has no home and no discernible income.

‘The public is disgusted by what they have read. And how would she pay a new PR team to rescue her reputation? 

‘She is said to be looking to bounce back, in typical Fergie style. I’m just not sure the public will buy it.’