Globe-trotting Sarah Ferguson is plotting an astonishing comeback to public life – very much without her beleaguered ex-husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

The former Duchess of York, it can be revealed, is lying low while she ‘gets her head together’, having recently spent a few days with friends in the French Alps before moving on to the United Arab Emirates.

She has also been spending time with her youngest daughter, Princess Eugenie, 35, who has been in the region for work, attending an art fair in Doha, Qatar, in her role as a director at dealer Hauser and Wirth.

However, far from issuing a public mea culpa over continuing revelations regarding her friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Ms Ferguson, 66, is understood to be already scouting around for a new PR team to represent her as she plans her return to the UK.

Sources say she has openly told friends: ‘I need to get back to work. I need money.’

Fascinatingly, she has also made it clear that this future does not include her ex-husband, despite once describing 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)
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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)
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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)

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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.

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

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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.’