Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, has been seen publicly for the first time this year, appearing in an alpine village in Austria amid mounting concerns about her personal circumstances and her relationship with the British Royal Family. Observers tracked Ferguson to a high-end ski chalet reportedly costing around £2,000 per night, where she has been attempting to maintain a low profile.

Ferguson’s absence from public view followed the christening of her granddaughter Athena at St James’s Palace in London on December 12. Since then, her movements have been shrouded in uncertainty, intensified by her inclusion in the widely reported Jeffrey Epstein files. This association has led to the loss of her Duchess title and appears to have triggered a period of isolation.

Insiders close to Ferguson say she has not received any communication from members of the Royal Family since the revocation of her title. A source described her as living in fear and struggling to cope with the ongoing situation. “She is definitely worried about returning home to the UK and is relying on the kindness of friends to help her,” the source said, adding that Ferguson feels abandoned and treated unfairly by the Royal Family.

In February, Ferguson voluntarily checked herself into the Paracelsus Recovery Clinic in Zurich, a facility with rates around £13,000 per night. The stay was reportedly covered at no cost by the clinic’s management, an organization for which Ferguson had previously acted as an ambassador. The move was seen as part of her efforts to address the toll of recent events on her well-being.

Reports also indicate that Ferguson may be considering relocating temporarily, with an invitation extended by her sister to stay in Australia. Additionally, there is talk of a forthcoming memoir, which Ferguson purportedly intends to market with an asking price near £1 million. Financial difficulties have been cited as a significant concern for the former royal.

Ferguson’s representatives have not publicly commented on these developments. Meanwhile, sources close to the Royal Family have declined to address allegations of abandonment or details regarding Ferguson’s current standing within royal circles.