why did prince andrew and fergie divorce

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson divorced in 1996 mainly due to the strains of Andrew’s naval career and the pressures of royal life, which kept them separated for long periods and exposed their marriage to intense public scrutiny. Ferguson has since described the separation as painful and driven by circumstance, and the couple chose divorce so she could pursue independent work without the royal family’s commercial constraints. Despite the divorce, they have maintained a public‑facing family life and have continued to cohabitate at Royal Lodge in Windsor for many years, a setup that many analysts say is financially advantageous and practically convenient for their blended family and public duties.