Ferguson has long been criticized for her financial mismanagement. Lownie notes by the mid-1990s, she was renting multimillion-pound properties in the south of France, complete with full household staff, while also claiming financial hardship. Another source close to the royal household claimed: "This isn't just about poor judgment. A senior royal source claimed: "The sense within the Palace is that the Duchess has once again been exposed. Her closeness to Epstein went on far longer than she admitted – and that is something the monarchy can no longer ignore."