How Sarah Ferguson ‘plans to use barn conversion to write sex books’

And Ferguson’s daughter, Princess Beatrice, 37, may step in to help her mother realize her new writing plans – by offering her mum a converted cattle shed on her huge Cotswolds estate.

Described as a ‘granny flat’, the building has been completely renovated with new doors, windows and a private entrance, separated from the six-bedroom main house by a courtyard.

Sources said Ferguson is now “seriously considering” moving into the space and using it as a writing retreat.

Another option being discussed is for Ferguson to move to Portugal, where Princess Eugenie, 35, owns a $4.2 million mansion at the CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club – a development often referred to as the ‘Hamptons of Europe’ and home to A-list residents including Madonna, Nicole Kidman, Michael Fassbender and Scarlet Johansson.

A source said: “No one can say how long she will stay in Portugal if she chooses to escape there, but if it is a long-term stay she will easily find herself in the scene. Plenty of celebrities have bought up properties in the area.”

Another insider said she would be ‘much better off’ if she chose the converted cattle shed as she ‘needs to continue working to build a financial base for herself’.