Sarah Ferguson is reportedly seeking refuge with friends after fleeing her secret Austrian hideaway last week, following the publication of pictures of her near the resort.
The former Duchess of York, 66, was staying in a £2,000-a-night apartment at the Mayrlife wellness spa in Altaussee, near Salzburg.
It is understood that Sarah mostly kept to her suite as she waited out the media storm following the release of the Epstein Files, and ordered room service, far away from communal areas such as the lobby and poolside.
But after her location was tracked down by The Sun, Fergie fled the spa and is understood to be depending upon her network of international contacts as she avoids the media, The Daily Mail reports.
A source told the newspaper: "Sarah has good friends. People who know her well are happy to help her. She won’t be left with nowhere to go."
The ex-duchess is also said to be dreading the prospect of a US subpoena over her links to the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
She was described as severely shocked by the arrest of her ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on February 19 on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Although Sarah's movements are being kept out of the public eye, she is in constant touch with her daughters Princess Beatrice, 37, and Princess Eugenie, 36, who are understood to be concerned about the impact of recent events upon her mental health.
It is unknown how the ex-duchess financed her most recent stay at Mayrlife. She previously stayed at the spa in 2023 while recovering from breast cancer and melanoma.
During that time, she is believed to have struck up a friendship with its co-owners, Natascha Sommerer and Dr Dieter Resch. Ms Sommerer is the daughter of the late industrialist and former Austrian vice-chancellor Hannes Androsch.
Sarah even recorded a promotional video for the spa during her first stay, describing it as "a safe place, a sanctuary" and "probably one of the only places in the world where I can just be Sarah".
Last week, it was reported that the former duchess was weighing up offers over a tell-all book deal as she "needs the money".
Writing in The Daily Beast, royal expert Tom Sykes suggested a warts-and-all book could shed more light on her relationship with Epstein.
"The idea that she is financing an Austrian spa break out of her own pocket strains credulity," he wrote. "The big rumour…is that Ferguson has secured a substantial book deal, a tell-all or at least tell-some, memoir that would represent a monster payday."
Following the revelations about their links with Epstein, Sarah’s ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his royal titles last October and she lost her courtesy royal divorcee title.
She was dropped by a string of charities after a fawning email apologising to Epstein and referring to him as a “supreme friend” was published by the US Department of Justice. Sarah also recently lost the freedom of the city of York, after councillors voted unanimously to remove the honour over her links to Epstein.
