Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is set to vacate Royal Lodge by 25 January, according to sources, as preparations intensify for his departure from the Windsor property. His former wife, Sarah Ferguson, is also preparing to leave but will not be relocating with him to Marsh Farm on the King’s Sandringham estate, nor moving in with their daughter Princess Beatrice in the Cotswolds. Sources say the Duchess is ready to pursue a more independent path after years of standing by Andrew.
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Those close to the situation say Sarah Ferguson, 66, is considering temporary options, including spending time at Princess Eugenie’s home in Portugal, while she searches for a permanent base. Andrew, 65, is described as increasingly withdrawn, with limited engagement with the media, although he remains in contact with his daughters. The pair have lived together at the 30-room Royal Lodge since 2004, despite divorcing in 1996.
The move follows Andrew’s loss of his remaining royal titles last October, linked to his past association with Jeffrey Epstein, which he denies involved any wrongdoing. Sarah Ferguson also lost the use of her courtesy title, Duchess of York, after the dukedom was removed, though Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie retain their HRH styles and titles. In recent weeks, removal vans have been seen at Royal Lodge, while security upgrades have reportedly been carried out at Marsh Farm.
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Andrew’s departure has been driven by public criticism over his long-standing lease arrangement at Royal Lodge, where he paid a nominal rent. He stepped back from public duties in 2019 following widespread scrutiny after a televised interview, and subsequent releases of documents from Epstein’s estate renewed attention on his past associations. While Andrew continues to deny allegations made against him, the move marks the end of a long chapter at one of the royal family’s most controversial residences.
