McNally, who made his fortune through Formula One advertising and hospitality, had been unwell for months before his death.
His chalet, Les Gais Lutins, in Verbier, became a haven for Ferguson after she was evicted from Royal Lodge and left the UK in February, while her business interests were wound down and she was found at a clinic in Austria before moving on.
The eight-bedroom property, once known as “Cocaine Castle” for its hedonistic parties in the 1980s, sits near Andrew’s former chalet, Helora, and has long been part of McNally’s wide property portfolio.
A second insider claimed: “Those close to Paddy believed he remained deeply protective of Sarah, and there was a strong feeling that he would have made sure she was looked after. After years of stepping in whenever she was in difficulty, few would have been surprised if he had arranged some form of provision for her so she would not be left vulnerable.”