Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, once a prominent royal, is packing up and leaving the grand Royal Lodge before his 66th birthday on Feb. 19.
Reports confirm that Andrew, stripped of his prince and duke titles in October due to connections with Jeffrey Epstein, has lost his tenancy at the 30-room Royal Lodge on the Windsor Estate. He is set to move into a temporary, smaller property on the King’s Norfolk estate by the end of this month, staying there until Easter while renovations wrap up at Marsh Farm in Sandringham. Workers are already hard at work transforming the run-down farmhouse, located two miles west of Sandringham House, into a secure and habitable residence.
Critics of the royal establishment have long questioned the cozy arrangements that allowed Andrew to live rent-free at Royal Lodge for 22 years. The deal, signed in 2003, let him dodge rent on a 75-year lease after shelling out £8 million for upfront repairs, yet no Crown Estate official ever inspected the property. This raises eyebrows about whether taxpayers got a raw deal while Andrew enjoyed a Grade II-listed mansion alongside his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.
Now, over at Marsh Farm, the renovation hustle is real, according to the Daily Mail. Six-foot wooden fences surround the property for privacy, a JCB digger was spotted on Tuesday, and at least six workmen are tackling the interior. Electricians are installing CCTV for added security, while a specialist security company’s van hints at the priority placed on safety.
A Palace insider noted, “The snow or rain hasn't delayed the work on Marsh Farm, but it still needs a lot of attention to make it habitable.” That’s diplomatic speak for a fixer-upper, and it’s clear this isn’t the luxury Andrew once knew.
The same insider added, “But one thing for sure is that it is a lot, lot smaller and less luxurious than Royal Lodge.” Well, isn’t that a humbling downgrade? Some might say it’s about time accountability caught up with privilege, even if it took decades.
Andrew reportedly eyed Wood Farm, where Prince Philip spent his retirement, but whispers of being “too close” to the family nixed that idea. Instead, Marsh Farm will be his new, isolated abode. It’s a pragmatic choice, perhaps, but also a stark reminder of his diminished status.
Meanwhile, a friend told The Sun that Andrew is ready to turn the page. The decision to relocate by month’s end, or at least before his February birthday, signals a desire to move forward. But splitting from Sarah Ferguson after nearly 20 years of cohabitation adds a poignant twist to this transition.
Sarah, who has lived at Royal Lodge since 2008 despite their 1996 divorce, is now house-hunting. She’s weighing options like a Cotswolds annexe near Princess Beatrice or a move to Portugal with Princess Eugenie. It’s a bittersweet chapter for a couple who’ve defied conventional post-divorce norms.
Back to that Royal Lodge arrangement—22 years without a single inspection smells like preferential treatment. The agreement demanded upkeep and allowed access for checks at reasonable times, yet no one bothered to knock. British taxpayers deserve better oversight when public assets are handed out like candy.
Andrew’s initial £8 million investment to refurbish the dilapidated mansion in 2003 might sound like a fair trade for no rent. But without accountability, how do we know the property wasn’t neglected again on the public’s dime? It’s the kind of loophole that fuels distrust in elite circles.
Now, as Andrew prepares to downsize, one can’t help but wonder if this move is less about punishment and more about optics. Stripping titles and shuffling residences might appease critics momentarily, but does it address the deeper issue of transparency in royal dealings?
The Marsh Farm saga, with its security upgrades and frantic renovations, paints a picture of urgency. But is this relocation a genuine fresh start, or just a way to sweep past controversies under the rug? Public skepticism isn’t unwarranted, given the history here.
For Andrew and Sarah, going their separate ways after so long adds a human layer to this otherwise bureaucratic shuffle. While the royal machine churns on, their personal lives are upended—yet another reminder that privilege doesn’t shield one from consequence forever.
