Royal Relocation: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Leaves Windsor for Sandringham Estate
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York, has reportedly vacated his long-term Windsor residence and relocated to a property on the King's Sandringham estate in Norfolk. This significant move comes amidst the ongoing release of court documents relating to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Temporary Accommodation at Wood Farm Cottage
According to sources familiar with the situation, the former prince has taken up temporary residence at Wood Farm Cottage on the Sandringham estate. This development follows extensive reporting that Andrew would be leaving Royal Lodge, his Windsor mansion, in the new year. While he retains the lease for Royal Lodge until October, it is understood that the substantive part of his relocation has already been completed.
The former duke spent Tuesday at Wood Farm Cottage, preparing for his eventual move to a permanent new home nearby. This permanent residence is believed to be Marsh Farm, which is currently undergoing renovations and is expected to be ready for occupation by the beginning of April. The transition between properties may take several weeks to finalise completely, meaning Andrew is likely to be seen occasionally at Royal Lodge during this period.
Epstein Document Release and Police Assessment
The relocation coincides with the release of new files by the US Department of Justice concerning Jeffrey Epstein. These documents feature Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on multiple occasions, including:
- Images apparently showing him crouched over an unidentified woman in what appears to be Epstein's New York mansion
- Email exchanges where Andrew appears to invite Epstein to Buckingham Palace
- Correspondence where Epstein introduces Andrew to a woman described as "26, Russian, clevere (sic) beautiful, trustworthy"
- An apparent message from Andrew to Epstein stating: "Wish I was still a pet in your family"
In a separate development, Thames Valley Police have confirmed they are assessing allegations that a woman was sent to the UK by Epstein for a sexual encounter with Andrew. A police spokesperson stated: "We are aware of reports about a woman said to have been taken to an address in Windsor in 2010 for sexual purposes. We are assessing the information in line with our established procedures."
The spokesperson emphasised that these allegations have not been formally reported to Thames Valley Police by either the lawyer involved or their client, but confirmed that the force takes any reports of sexual crimes extremely seriously.
International Political Interest and Past Settlements
The situation has attracted attention beyond British shores, with US Vice President JD Vance telling the Daily Mail that he would support efforts to summon Andrew to testify before US lawmakers regarding his friendship with Epstein. Mr Vance referenced comments by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the matter, stating: "I'm certainly open to it."
This latest development follows Andrew's 2022 settlement with Virginia Giuffre, to whom he paid millions of pounds despite maintaining he had never met her. The former duke was stripped of his royal titles by the King last year following the posthumous publication of a book from Ms Giuffre, who alleged she was trafficked by Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell when she was 17 years old.
Throughout these developments, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor continues to vehemently deny any wrongdoing. The relocation to Sandringham represents a significant geographical shift for the former prince as he navigates the continuing fallout from his association with Jeffrey Epstein while establishing a new residence separate from his previous Windsor home.
