In the aftermath of an eventful day, Prince Andrew has been officially stripped of his titles and instructed to leave the Royal Lodge. The focus now shifts to where the disgraced royal will relocate.
Officially losing his Duke of York and HRH titles, Andrew will now be referred to as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. King Charles has directed him to vacate his residence at Royal Lodge “as soon as is practicable.”
Though he faces eviction, Andrew will not be left without accommodation. Instead, he will move to a smaller and less opulent home reflecting his new status outside the royal circle.
Since 2004, Andrew and his family, including ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, have been residing at Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate. Previously, it was the main residence of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother from 1952 until her passing in 2002.
Following her death, the lodge became Andrew Mountbatten Windsor’s official residence until King Charles announced he must leave by October 2025.
The extravagant property, featuring 30 rooms, is set on approximately 100 acres. It underwent a significant £7.5 million ($10 million) renovation in 2002 as part of Andrew’s lease agreement for a 75-year tenancy.
Andrew, often described as the late Queen Elizabeth II’s “favorite son,” is losing his residence in correlation with the removal of his royal titles.
The decision to strip him of his royal status arose from growing public and political pressure due to his taxpayer-subsidized lifestyle after stepping down from royal duties in 2019.
This also follows renewed attention on his ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died by suicide in August 2019 while awaiting trial.
Virginia Giuffre, Epstein’s accuser, claimed she was paid $15,000 to engage in sexual activity with Andrew when she was 17—a claim Andrew has firmly denied. Despite his defense, Andrew settled with Giuffre for approximately $15 million in 2022.
Despite the settlement, ongoing allegations and speculation have rendered Andrew’s position within the Royal Family untenable. These issues have overshadowed the activities of King Charles and other senior royals.
Buckingham Palace released a statement on October 30, saying: “His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence.
“Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation. These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.
“Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”
It is reported that Andrew will relocate to the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, another of the late Queen’s cherished properties.
While no official announcement has been made about which specific property Andrew will occupy, it’s thought that he will not reside in the main house but in one of the smaller cottages.
The Sandringham estate, covering 20,000 acres, comprises around 150 properties.
Open to the public, the estate offers many amenities, such as a sawmill, organic farm, museum, and 600 acres of beautiful gardens.
Several smaller houses are located on the estate, including Anmer Hall, gifted to Prince William and Princess Kate in 2013.
Given the royal connection, Anmer Hall is unlikely to be offered to Andrew.
Wood Farm, a favorite of the late Queen Elizabeth and Duke of Edinburgh, is also reportedly not an option, according to the BBC.
Potential homes for Andrew include York Cottage, a location where the Royal Family gathers at Christmas, Park House, where Princess Diana was born, and Garden’s House, the former residence of the head gardener.
Additionally, some smaller homes are available on the private rental market, such as a two-bedroom red brick terraced house in Flitcham village for $1,300 per month.
Two three-bedroom homes in Harpley Dams and Doddshills are also available for $1,600 and $1,500, respectively.
Andrew’s new residence will likely be privately financed by King Charles, who is expected to make “appropriate private provision” for him.
As such, taxpayers will not fund Andrew’s new life on the royal estate—something likely to satisfy the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, which recently scrutinized the “value for money” concerning his taxpayer-supported lifestyle.
Alongside private financial support from his elder brother, Andrew will also have access to personal finances accrued through business dealings since he stepped back from royal duties in 2019.
Many of Andrew’s business dealings remain undisclosed to the public.
His only publicly known source of income is his Royal Navy pension, which provides a $26,000 annual income.