After more than two decades, the removal vans have finally arrived at Royal Lodge in Windsor. Prince Andrew is preparing to leave his 30-bedroom mansion in the coming weeks, marking the end of a 22-year chapter and the beginning of a controversial new life in exile on the Sandringham estate.
A Lifetime Packed Away
The former Duke of York has shared the Windsor property with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, since 2008, and its walls hold memories of time spent with their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, and more recently, their grandchildren. Having agreed to leave, he is now faced with the monumental task of packing up a lifetime of possessions, a process he had delayed for months.
A royal insider has revealed that Andrew now begrudgingly 'accepts' he must depart. While the move represents a significant humiliation, he is reportedly not dreading every aspect of his relocation to Norfolk. The source described him as being 'sanguine' about the change, provided he has access to Sky TV, fast broadband, horses, and a good local golf club.
In stark contrast, Sarah Ferguson is said to be ‘beside herself’ about being forced out of Royal Lodge, a situation causing increasing concern for their daughters and their ‘dwindling’ circle of friends.
A New, Quieter Life at Marsh Farm
Andrew’s new residence will be Marsh Farm on the Sandringham estate, a property requiring substantial renovation. He is expected to stay in temporary accommodation on the estate until the work is completed around Easter. The farmhouse has only five bedrooms, a drastic downsize from Royal Lodge's thirty, forcing a significant declutter.
This means many of his possessions will not make the journey. Notably, his reported collection of 72 teddy bears, which a servant allegedly had to line up in size order each morning, will not be housed there. Many expensive items, such as guns, have also been left behind after he quietly surrendered his firearm licence in November at the request of the Metropolitan Police.
His daily life, however, may not change dramatically. Insiders describe the Duke as having become a 'couch potato' in his mid-sixties, a far cry from his partying youth. He is said to spend most of his time at home watching television, with a particular fondness for golf and war movies. His other rumoured passions include video games like Call of Duty, flight simulators, and watching airport clips on YouTube.
This week, a specialist Sky TV VIP team was spotted installing satellite TV and super-fast broadband at Marsh Farm, catering to his reported viewing habits. When not watching screens, he enjoys crime novels, often re-reading Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr Ripley.
Family Duty and a Shrinking Circle
King Charles III is said to feel a deep sense of duty towards his younger brother, despite the shame brought upon the family by the association with Jeffrey Epstein. The King will provide a cleaner, a groundsman, and a cook from Sandringham to attend to Andrew's needs on an ad-hoc basis. Security at Marsh Farm is also being upgraded, with a new six-foot wooden fence, CCTV, and an extended no-fly zone over the property.
Charles and other family members are expected to visit Andrew privately on the estate. While Beatrice and Eugenie remain supportive, the longer journey to Norfolk—compared to Windsor—may mean fewer visits, especially with Sarah Ferguson not living there. Beatrice lives in Oxfordshire and Eugenie splits her time between Kensington Palace and Portugal.
Andrew’s social world has contracted severely. “The phone has stopped ringing regularly,” a source told the Daily Mail. “More than one society hostess has said Andrew and Fergie are no longer welcome at gatherings.” Dinners at Mayfair hotspots and nights out in London are a thing of the past, replaced by meals for one at home.
While Andrew receives no compensation for leaving Royal Lodge early, the vast Sandringham estate offers one consolation: freedom to roam. This ends months of being cooped up and having to be smuggled out of Windsor three to four times a week to ride. A local golf club membership is also considered essential for his new life.
As the final boxes are loaded at Royal Lodge, Prince Andrew exchanges the grandeur of Windsor for a quieter, more isolated existence in Norfolk, under the watchful eye of a brother performing a reluctant duty of care.
