No more Royal Lodging: Inside Prince Andrew’s new residence, a privately owned property by the King

No more Royal perks for the Prince that was accused!The address is a-changing for Andrew Mountbatten Windsor — a major shake-up is underway for him and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, as they prepare to leave their long-time home at Royal Lodge, Windsor, in a move directed by King Charles III.For the unversed: in a dramatic shift for the British royal family, Andrew has lost all his Royal titles, including “Prince” — which is a birthright for male-line grandchildren of the monarch, granted automatically at birth by Letters Patent — over his ties with Jeffrey Epstein. Notably, Andrew had also relinquished one of his other prominent royal titles — “Duke of York” — earlier this month over allegations made by the late Virginia Giuffre of sexual misconduct.After losing these royal titles, Andrew has now been formally asked to evacuate his residence for over two decades — the Royal Lodge, a Grade II listed house in Windsor Great Park in Berkshire, England.But where is he shifting to?

New residence for an ex-royal

The lease Andrew held of the Royal Lodge has been formally served for surrender by King Charles III, and he is expected to relocate to a privately-owned property on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.

The Royal Lodge — the 30-room, Grade II listed mansion — has been the residence of not only Andrew, but also of his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, for over two decades under a favorable lease. Now, with mounting pressure and scrutiny, the pair are set to relocate — potentially to separate properties — on royal estates under new arrangements.

From royal grandeur to private household

The Royal Lodge, part of the Crown Estate and situated roughly three miles from Windsor Castle, has been Andrew’s home since the lease was granted in 2003.

Under the lease arrangement, he was reportedly required to pay a £1 million premium and major refurbishment charges (estimated at £7.5 million at the time) and, in return, secured a 75-year lease. Although nominal rent (a “peppercorn” rent of perhaps £250 a year) was stipulated, the upkeep costs have been substantial — the estate reportedly costing hundreds of thousands of pounds annually to maintain.Meanwhile, Sarah Ferguson, Andrew’s former wife — who he had divorced in 1996 — moved into the Royal Lodge in 2004, after she left her previous residence following a fire at that home.

Since then, the Royal Lodge has served as a cohabiting place for the duo, despite being divorced for decades.With around 30 rooms, several wings, staff cottages, and large grounds comparable to “60 football pitches”, the property stands as one of the more opulent private royal residences. But in recent months, pressure has grown for Andrew to surrender the lease and vacate the property — and finally, the process is speeding up.

The private shift: King’s private property at Sandringham

Andrew’s forthcoming new residence is reportedly on the Sandringham Estate, a property personally owned by the King rather than leased via the Crown Estate. As per reports, the accommodation will be privately funded by King Charles, marking a change from publicly supported royal homes to more privately funded arrangements.What happens after that?First and foremost, it places Andrew’s future residence under the direct control of King Charles, rather than under the lease terms he previously enjoyed through the Crown Estate.

It also reflects the monarch’s intent to reposition Andrew away from senior royal residence status, aligning accommodation with his current role outside the working royal structure.With the new home described as a “private provision,” the move also indicates that Andrew’s new housing will be separated from the generous publicly-supported arrangements he formerly held.Meanwhile, for Ferguson’s new residence, the potential destination includes the nearby Adelaide Cottage in Windsor Home Park — a much smaller and more modest residence than the Lodge.