Prince Andrew to Leave Royal Lodge, Move to Sandringham Estate

Prince Andrew will be relinquishing his lease on the Royal Lodge and relocating to a private property on the Sandringham Estate, Buckingham Palace announced today.

The 30-room, Grade II listed mansion in Windsor Great Park has been Prince Andrew’s home since 2003, secured through a 75-year lease with the Crown Estate. He initially made approximately £8 million in up-front payments for the property, and has since been paying a nominal “peppercorn” rent. The Royal Lodge boasts nearly 100 acres of grounds, including a royal chapel that hosted Princess Beatrice’s wedding.

The lease, which would have allowed Prince Andrew to reside at the Royal Lodge until 2078, also included provisions for his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, to potentially take over the residency – the status of that clause is currently unknown. This move comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the Prince’s associations and financial arrangements; further details about the Crown Estate’s plans for the property are expected soon. You can learn more about the Crown Estate and its holdings on their official website.

Buckingham Palace has not yet specified a timeline for the move, but confirmed that arrangements are underway to facilitate the transition to the Sandringham Estate. For more on the British Royal Family, see the official Royal Family website.