Duke hints at remarriage

The family already spends a lot of time together

The Duke of York has revealed he would "not rule out" the possibility of remarrying his former wife Sarah Ferguson.

The Duke and Duchess of York split in 1993, but there has been much speculation about their relationship since Miss Ferguson moved back into the family home three years ago.

Prince Andrew, speaking in a candid interview with Tatler magazine, said: "I don't rule remarriage out and I certainly don't rule it in.

"The fact is that we got married and had a wonderful time but it didn't work out for whatever reason."

We are not just doing it for the children, we are doing it for our own benefit too.

Duke of York

The article paints a happy family picture of the Duke and Duchess, who live together at Sunninghill, their former marital home, with daughters Beatrice, 11 and Eugenie, 10.

They holiday together as a family and are understood to enjoy a "very loving relationship" under the same roof.

The duke and duchess enjoy happy family holidays

Only recently, the duke was pictured taking his family for a spin on the Millennium Wheel to celebrate his 40th birthday.

"Both Sarah and I are determined not to make a nonsense of it again," he said. "As individuals, we are making a better fist of things than as a couple".

'Extraordinary' relationship

The Duchess of York, also 40, describes their relationship as "extraordinary and very original".

In the interview, republished in The Mirror on Thursday and due to appear in the June issue of Tatler, the prince dismisses press reports of romances with model Caprice and French golfer Audrey Raimbault.

But BBC royal correspondent Jenny Bond says that while it is widely known that Prince Andrew "would take her (the Duchess) back at the drop of a hat", resentment in the royal family would probably prevent it from happening.

"There's a great deal of animosity between certain members of the royal family and the Duchess of York", said Ms Bond, referring in particular to the frosty relations between Prince Philip and the Duchess.

She added it was highly unlikely the duchess would agree to go back in the "goldfish bowl" of the royal family.

The couple married in July 1986

"She wouldn't have the freedom to go and work in America, earn lots of money, and be her own woman," Ms Bond added.

The Mirror's royal correspondent James Whitaker also feels the opposition would be too great.

"There are so many obstacles, not least of which are the people that Fergie calls the grey men - the courtiers at Buckingham Palace. They are very powerful people," he told GMTV.

Analysing the breakdown of the marriage, the prince talks about the pressure of royal married life which was further aggravated by the long periods he spent at sea as a naval officer.

He said: "Sarah and I calculated that we only saw each other 40 or 50 days a year at one stage."

He blamed himself for not understanding "the cries for help" until it was too late to halt their marriage breakdown.