The long-anticipated eviction of the Duke of York from his Windsor home, Royal Lodge, has hit a significant snag, with reports indicating the disgraced royal could face a period of temporary homelessness.
Easter Deadline and an Unready Refuge
Having spent what is believed to be his final Christmas at the 30-room Royal Lodge, his home for over two decades, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is officially expected to vacate the property by Easter 2026. This timeline is intended to ensure his departure precedes the traditional Windsor gathering of the royal family, avoiding further awkward encounters.
However, the plan for his relocation to the King's Sandringham estate in Norfolk is encountering serious practical difficulties. Andrew is set to move into the five-bedroom Marsh Farm, situated approximately seven miles from the main Sandringham House. Contrary to initial expectations, this property is reportedly 'quite small' and requires substantial renovation to become habitable and secure.
Renovation Row and Resistance to a Temporary Move
A royal insider has revealed that six months of works are needed before the Duke can take up residence. This extensive schedule is creating a major logistical problem, as the Easter eviction date from Royal Lodge now appears fixed. The situation is further complicated by Andrew's reported strong resistance to moving into an alternative temporary property while Marsh Farm is being prepared.
'He's strongly resisting plans to live in a temporary property until the renovations are complete - not least because the suggested property is a fraction of the size of Royal Lodge,' a source told The Express. This stance raises the prospect of the Duke having nowhere to live for an interim period, as it seems unlikely he will be permitted to extend his stay in Windsor.
The Final Stages of a Royal Exile
This housing dilemma marks the latest chapter in Andrew's effective exile from public royal life. The crisis stems from the continuing fallout over his association with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a decisive move in October 2025, King Charles formally stripped his brother of his HRH style, his prince title, and removed his dukedom from the Roll of the Peerage.
This historic demotion was a direct response to what the Palace termed Andrew's 'serious lapses' of judgement, actions brought into sharper focus by the release of documents from Epstein's estate and a posthumous memoir by accuser Virginia Giuffre. Andrew continues to deny all allegations of wrongdoing.
As biographer Robert Jobson noted, 'The royals are hoping to draw a line under the Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor controversy in 2026.' Yet, with the practicalities of his move from Royal Lodge in disarray, that line appears increasingly difficult to draw, prolonging a scandal that continues to cast a shadow over the monarchy.
