Sarah, Duchess of York FINALLY moves out of marital home

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The Duchess of York has moved to a chalet in the Swiss resort of Verbier
£13m property is jointly owned by Fergie and ex-husband Prince Andrew
A spokesman said the move is a bid to be seen as 'an independent unit'
Lavish chalet boasts an indoor pool and six permanent members of staff

Published: 04:45 EST, 3 August 2015 | Updated: 06:00 EST, 3 August 2015

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The Duchess of York has quit the UK and Prince Andrew's Windsor mansion to become an 'independent unit' based in a £13m chalet in the Swiss ski resort of Verbier.

Despite divorcing in 1996, Fergie, 55, has spent the intervening 19 years based first at Sunninghill Park and, since 2008, at the Royal Lodge in Windsor with the Prince.

But last week, a removal van was seen leaving the Berkshire mansion with boxes, furniture and a steel drum spotted being unpacked her new home in the upmarket resort four days later.

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On the move: The Duchess of York, pictured in Verbier in January, has relocated to the resort permanently

According to some reports, the move is the result of her 'intense friendship' with internet entrepreneur Manuel Fernandez, 47.

The tycoon, who was first seen with the Duchess at the Cannes Film Festival in May, has become an increasing presence in her life and has subsequently holidayed in Spain and France with Fergie.

However, the 55-year-old, whose spokesman confirmed the move, said the move was due to the demands of her many 'international business commitments'.

Speaking to the Sun, the spokesman said: 'She has a lot of international business commitments and has moved on considerably.

'So this is really showing that she has become a more independent unit.'

Lavish: The seven-bedroom Chalet Helora was purchased by the Yorks for £13m earlier this year

Well-equipped: The chalet comes with six staff members, an indoor pool and a private sauna

Moving out: Prince Andrew will now share the Royal Lodge in Windsor with Princess Eugenie alone

Her new home, a luxury property called Chalet Helora, is jointly owned with Prince Andrew and has been a regular holiday destination for the former couple who bought it earlier this year.

Inside, the property has seven bedrooms as well as an indoor pool and private sauna, and has a permanent staff of six.

Fergie's move to Switzerland brings to an end one of the most unusual royal living situations and one that left the Duke of Edinburgh among others baffled.

The Duchess, who has in the past confessed that she would have been left homeless were it not for her ex, has continued to share a home with Prince Andrew, despite being divorced.

Their marital home, the 12-bedroom Sunninghill Park in Berkshire, was sold to Kazakh businessman Timur Kulibayev for £15m in 2007.

Close: Fergie and Prince Andrew have lived together since divorcing in 1996 and remain close friends. The Duchess, pictured left at Royal Ascot and right in Verbier, said she would have been homeless without him

Back in London: Fergie, who wants to be seen as an 'independent unit', has left Princess Eugenie to share the Royal Lodge with her father. The 25-year-old recently moved home after nearly three years in New York

Moving on: While Eugenie is back in the UK and Fergie is in Switzerland, Princess Beatrice has made a move of her own and started a job at a 'leading private equity firm' based in New York last month

Andrew, who inherited the 30-bedroom Royal Lodge on the Queen Mother's death in 2002, spent £7.5m renovating the property before moving in, with Fergie in tow, in 2008.

The Duchess, who according to her spokesman will keep a London home, will still have a room in the Lodge for family occasions.

But Andrew won't be completely alone in the property, with Princess Eugenie, 25, now in residence following her return to the UK after a stint in New York.

Sister Princess Beatrice, 26, moved in the opposite direction last month and, according to Buckingham Palace, has begun a new role at 'a leading private equities firm' based in the Big Apple.

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