Sarah Ferguson wanted to remarry Prince Andrew despite '12 affairs in first year'

They should have been enjoying the first flourishes of wedded bliss, but instead Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson spent the first months of their marriage living miles apart.

After tying the knot at Westminster Abbey in 1986, cracks quickly began to show amid Andrew’s time away from his wife to fulfil his Navy duties. The biography of the Duke and Duchess of York by historian Andrew Lownie alleges Fergie wanted to be “The One” but enjoyed several affairs of her own with “reckless abandon”. Lownie, who has written several acclaimed books on the Royal Family, details claims the York’s troubled marriage was riddled with infidelity. Within weeks of their lavish wedding in 1986, Fergie is said to have realised the marriage was a mistake as they had few mutual interests.

And, with Andrew regularly away on Navy duty, it has been claimed that she embarked on numerous flings. It comes after reports of William and Kate Middleton's fears over move with kids after Royal Family 'bad blood'.

Disgraced Andrew, who was forced to step down from royal duties over his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, allegedly told his new wife early on: “I am a prince, then a naval officer, then a husband.”

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Lownie details claims from a former driver who worked for the couple that Andrew slept with more than 12 women before their first anniversary. The author also alleges Andrew has slept with over 1,000 women in his life. Lownie claims the list includes adult film stars, political figures, and nightclub staff and bartenders. One 20-year-old model alleged: “He wanted me to engage in kinky sexual activity. He had no boundaries. He told me he had an open marriage arrangement with his wife. I felt like he used me for a few days, so he could live his wildest fantasies.”

A series of alleged affairs on both Andrew and Fergie's parts would ultimately end their marriage in 1992, with their divorce finalised four years later.

Despite their doomed romance, Fergie has long hinted at the fact that she would not discount the possibility of remarrying her ex-husband. However, one major royal stepped in to ensure the couple would not tie the knot once more. It comes as a new book claims Prince Andrew 'slept with more than dozen women in first year of marriage'

According to the explosive new biography Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York by historian Andrew Lownie, Fergie gave a tell-all interview in 1999 to mark her 40th birthday, speaking candidly to The Times about the ups and downs of both her relationship and motherhood.

In the interview, Fergie maintained that the couple had “got divorced because I had to go out to work, and Andrew and I believed that it wasn’t right for me to be commercial while I was still in the Royal Family”.

Despite this, she also said that she had not ruled out remarrying Prince Andrew in the future, and also hinted at the fact that she was open to trying for a third child.

While Sarah may have been open to remarrying her ex-husband, the royal family were far less keen on the idea, according to claims from Lownie’s biography, with one senior royal in particular stepping in to stop the reunion.

According to the biography, Prince Philip was determined to stop Andrew and Fergie marrying for a second time as he claimed the Duchess of York was “living in the land of Nod” and “a squalid public relations exercise”.

The book also claims that Charles, Princess Margaret, Prince Edward - who had not invited Sarah to his wedding in spite of her daughters being bridesmaids - were also against the idea of the couple remarrying.

Elsewhere in the book, author Andrew Lownie shared claims that Prince Philip was not a fan of Sarah from the beginning, as he wrote that the late Duke of Edinburgh thought Fergie was an opportunist.

A "well-connected" source of the author stated: "Fergie couldn't stop talking – and inappropriately. She was all high jinks, jolly hockey sticks and practical jokes. Andy loved it, no one else did. The Queen said to someone, 'Does that girl never stop talking!' The Duke of Edinburgh just thought she was a girl on the make."

The book goes on to claim that in spite of Andrew and Fergie’s differences and rollercoaster relationship, “the two need each other”. Lownie quotes a friend as remarking: “Andrew is nothing without a woman. He’s sweet, but also rather clunky and gauche. He needs someone who can navigate his life for him.”

Andrew is reported to now understand his “initial neglect of his ex-wife”, leading him to remain loyal to her, despite her behaviour. In turn, after Andrew’s fall from grace over his alleged relationship with billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, Sarah has proved to be his most loyal supporter. A spokesman for the Duke and Duchess of York was contacted for comment.