Sarah Ferguson should be grateful for the treatment she has received from the Royal Family, an author has claimed. Andrew Lownie, the author of ‘Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York’, published earlier this year believes that the former Duchess should count herself lucky for still being cared for by the family, despite her divorce from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in the 1990s.

Lownie, who is heavily critical of Andrew throughout his book, told a podcast that Ferguson has been treated better by her ex-husband’s family than many other divorced wives. He told the Sunday Morning podcast: “Sarah Ferguson, everyone feels sorry for but again, the King is making provision for her, she has been divorced from Andrew now for 30 years and she is still kind of hanging in there. “So I think a lot of divorced wives would be absolutely thrilled to have the sort of relationship that Sarah Ferguson seems to have with the Royal Family.”

Ferguson, who remained close to Andrew despite their divorce and lived alongside him in Royal Lodge, lost her Duchess of York title after further evidence of the pair’s relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein came to light.

She along with Andrew will leave Royal Lodge but will not move in with her former husband on the Sandringham Estate.

A number of charities severed ties with Ferguson after it was disclosed she sent a message to Epstein describing him as a “supreme friend”.

The Sun newspaper reported that the duchess “humbly apologised” to Epstein for linking him to paedophilia in the media, describing him as “steadfast” and “generous”.

Her spokesman said it was sent “in the context of advice the duchess was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats”.

The email stemmed from an interview with the Evening Standard on March 7, 2011, in which she apologised for accepting £15,000 from the sex offender.

During the interview, she told the newspaper: “I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf. I am just so contrite I cannot say.

“Whenever I can, I will repay the money and have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again.”

A little over a month later, the duchess sent a message to Epstein, in which she said: “I know you feel hellaciously let down by me.

“And I must humbly apologise to you and your heart for that.

“You have always been a steadfast, generous and supreme friend to me and my family.”

It continued: “I was advised in no uncertain terms, to have nothing to do with you and to not speak or email you.

“And if I did — I would cause more problems to you, the Duke and myself. I was broken and lost.

“So please understand. I didn’t want to hurt Andrew one more time. I was in over-riding fear. I am sorry.”

It comes as The Sun reported that Ferguson is considering offers for a television interview, with US channels reportedly said to be willing to pay six-figure sums.