Sarah Ferguson used a discreet five-word code with close friends to signal that her marriage to Prince Andrew was collapsing, RadarOnline.com can reveal.

The 65-year-old Duchess of York married Andrew in 1986, but the union faltered within a few years.

They separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996, though they have since maintained a notably close relationship, still living under the same roof at Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate. Article continues below advertisement

Royal biographer Andrew Lownie, 62, has now claimed during the darkest days of their marriage Ferguson resorted to cryptic language to share her true feelings about Andrew's behavior.

A source quoted in his new book on the couple said: "When things were especially rough, she would say 'The ranch is getting closer.

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