Sarah Ferguson returns to London after a long absence

At a memorial service for Paddy McNally, Fergie was back in London with her daughters. The memorial took place at St. Paul's Church, just a stone's throw from Buckingham Palace. Peter Phillips also paid his respects to the deceased.

Public appearance at a memorial service

Peter Phillips is the son of Princess Anne and the cousin of William and Harry. The memorial service was therefore also a public appearance by the royal circle, attended by Fergie as well. The term “comeback” refers here to her return to public life, not to a return to a particular residence.

The departure from Royal Lodge marked a significant turning point. The residence had served as Fergie and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's home for many years. After they moved out, she was seen in London more frequently, though this has not yet resulted in a permanent new residence.

For Fergie, the return marks a transition from a lengthy period of absence to public appearances. Her daughters accompanied her to the memorial service in London. The available facts do not establish what role Sarah Ferguson will take on in the future public life of the royal circle.

What remains unclear about her future role

The memorial service for Paddy McNally took place at the historic St. Paul's Church in London. Its proximity to Buckingham Palace shows that the venue is part of the public center surrounding the royal family. Fergie's participation therefore linked this act of remembrance with her own return to public life.

It remains unclear to what extent the Epstein affair shaped her absence. Confirmed facts establish that she changed residences in February 2026 and later appeared publicly in London, but they provide no explanation for her absence or further details about her private situation.

The development is thus also a sign of the normalization of her public presence. Within a year of leaving Royal Lodge, Fergie was seen again at a prominent memorial service in London. Further appearances and a possible permanent return to a royal residence have not yet been documented.