King Charles III has reportedly intervened to hasten his brother's departure from Royal Lodge by offering him a temporary home on the Sandringham estate. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who has lived at the Grade II-listed Windsor mansion for two decades, is under pressure to vacate the property, with the monarch hoping for a move by Easter.
The Interim Accommodation Offer
The King has offered Andrew a temporary property on the Norfolk estate while more permanent renovations are completed at Marsh Farm. This interim solution is designed to speed up the disgraced former prince's relocation from the 30-room Royal Lodge. According to sources speaking to The Times, this could see Andrew settled into more modest accommodation in time for his 66th birthday on 19 February.
While specifics remain scarce, potential temporary residences include Wood Farm, where the late Prince Philip spent his final years, and York Cottage. Removal vans have already been spotted at Royal Lodge, signalling that the long-running saga is finally moving towards a conclusion.
Preparing a Permanent Base at Marsh Farm
Renovation and construction work is currently underway at Marsh Farm, which is destined to become Andrew's permanent home on the Sandringham estate. The property, previously held by a tenant farmer and empty for years, requires significant upgrades, particularly to its security features.
New fences and a comprehensive CCTV system are being installed ahead of his arrival. In a clear sign of the preparations, a no-fly restriction zone was extended in December 2024 to cover the Marsh Farm area. A source told The Sun that the work continues despite the weather, noting, "it still needs a lot of attention to make it habitable. But one thing for sure is that it is a lot, lot smaller and less luxurious than Royal Lodge."
The Backstory: From Royal Titles to Relocation
Andrew's exit from Royal Lodge follows years of controversy and a dramatic fall from grace. He first signed a 75-year lease on the mansion in 2003, paying a peppercorn rent, and was advised to leave two years ago but refused.
The final catalyst came in October 2025, when Buckingham Palace confirmed he had returned his lease. This followed further revelations that he had continued to email convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after publicly claiming in his disastrous 2019 Newsnight interview that he had cut all contact in 2010.
As a direct result, the King stripped Andrew of his military titles and royal patronages and forced his relocation. The monarch is now due to privately fund his brother's new, more limited lifestyle. Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, who lived with him at Royal Lodge, is now understood to be separately house-hunting. Neither was invited to spend Christmas Day 2025 with the Royal Family, while their daughters, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, were present at Sandringham.
