Sarah Ferguson has retreated from public view at Royal Lodge after revelations about her 2011 correspondence with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein sparked fresh controversy for the York family.
The Duchess of York referred to Epstein as her "supreme friend” and apologised for publicly disowning him just weeks earlier in an email that emerged last month.
Following the disclosures, Fergie was dropped as patron by seven charities as the already intense public scrutiny on the Yorks was renewed.
As a result, Fergie appears to have totally vanished from view with royal correspondent Richard Palmer notes there has been "no sign of her" in recent weeks.
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The duchess typically frequents Windsor Great Park, where she resides with her former husband Prince Andrew at the £30million property.
However, even the duchess's mundane usual activities around Windsor have ceased.
This has included her regular walks with the late Queen Elizabeth's beloved corgis and frequent shopping excursions.
Ingrid Seward, Ferguson's biographer who has known the family since the 1980s, explained that Fergie would need to remain hidden for some time if she had any hope of repairing her image.
Sarah Ferguson has retreated from public life after an email she sent to Jeffrey Epstein in 2011 emerged last month
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"(Fergie) has come back so many times. This time she is probably going to have to do what she's never done before and lie low for quite a while," Seward told the i newspaper.
To that end, royal commentator Jennie Bond told The Mirror it was "inconceivable" that the Yorks could join the Royal Family's traditional Christmas church service at Sandringham.
Royal sources have indicated that King Charles will not extend an invite to the festive gathering to Fergie and Andrew.
Additionally, the King is understood to have indicated that the pair, who divorced in 1996, should remain “invisible” at future family events.
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The Duke and Duchess of York were last seen publicly alongside the Royal Family for the funeral of the Duchess of Kent
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The Yorks were last seen publicly with the Royal Family at the funeral of the Duchess of Kent, mere days before the latest disclosures.
While there, Prince William appeared to ignore Andrew as his uncle attempted to strike up a conversation.
Fergie has also remained radio silent on social media, where she would previously post regularly about her charitable endevours and share family updates.
Friends of the duchess said she was “devastated for any embarrassment” caused by the latest revelations and “will explain herself to the wider Royal Family in due course”.
The Yorks have come under intense public scrutiny in recent weeks
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Meanwhile, the York daughters have maintained a conspicuous distance from their parents' Windsor residence since the email controversy erupted.
Princess Beatrice, 37, and Princess Eugenie, 35, typically visit the Royal Lodge frequently but have not been spotted near the property in recent weeks.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams observed: "The York brand has been toxic for some time and this may well get even worse. Both will obviously be devastated by the fact that their parents are both in disgrace."
Beatrice is said to have hoped to assume greater royal duties during the King's and Princess of Wales's health challenges, making the timing especially difficult.