Sarah Ferguson had five word code to 'signal end of marriage' to Prince Andrew

A Royal biographer has revealed that Sarah Ferguson used a mysterious five-word code to alert her inner circle that her marriage to Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, was ending.

Andrew Lownie's explosive new book, entitled: The Rise And Fall Of The House Of York, delves into the tumultuous life of Prince Andrew, one of the Royal Family's most scandal-plagued members.

Though Andrew stepped back from Royal responsibilities in 2019 following his catastrophic Newsnight interview about his ties to deceased convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the Duke continues to be embroiled in fresh controversies, and the book delves into the details. Concerns are mounting that the situation could worsen with the release of Mr Lownie's unauthorized biography of the 65-year-old prince.

Beyond chronicling his Royal duties, the book investigates Andrew's ten-year marriage to Sarah and exposes the secret communication method she allegedly used with confidants to share her marital woes quietly, reports the Mirror.

Sarah and Andrew wed in 1986 but split in 1992, finalizing their divorce in 1996, though the former pair have remained on friendly terms ever since.

Mr Lownie explains how Sarah was revealing her marriage was over as he claims in his book, "By now, Sarah was using a secret code with her closest friends to let them know that her relationship with Andrew was crumbling. Said one: 'When things were getting very rough she'd say 'The ranch is getting closer.' A reference to her mother's flight to Argentina.'"

The "departure" Mr. Lownie refers to is when Sarah's mother, Susan Barrantes (formerly Ferguson and Wright), left her family to pursue a romance with Argentinian polo player Hector Barrantes. Hector passed away in 1990, eight years before Susan, who is reportedly buried next to him.

Mr. Lownie's book release has allegedly increased worries within the Royal Family about Andrew potentially becoming embroiled in more negative narratives.

Journalist Richard Eden shared his views in a new television documentary about Andrew. He stated, "Who knows what could come out? I think the Royal Family still lives in fear, frankly, of what could come out."

In the lead-up to the book's debut, Mr. Lownie has been discussing the attention it has received, and how it took him four years to complete, after submitting hundreds of Freedom of Information requests to government departments.

He claimed to Sky that his applications were denied, while addressing the widespread controversy surrounding his work before it became widely available.

Mr. Lownie told the broadcaster: "Clearly there are details that people have picked up on and run with. And you know, that's inevitable in these sort of books. If they're to earn our trust and support, they have to show that they are not hiding things - that they are behaving well."

Mr. Lownie has also addressed the question of whether Andrew might return to public duties following a YouGov poll which revealed the Duke remains the least popular Royal.

The survey revealed that a staggering 87 percent of participants have a negative view of him, while a mere five percent see him in a positive light, with disapproval ratings soaring among younger age groups.

Mr. Lownie commented: "I don't think he has any public future. I would say his private future is pretty limited too. I mean, he lives in Royal Lodge [on the Windsor Estate], he plays golf, watches TV, and presumably sees his grandchildren ... he's living the life of a retired man."