By: The Trek News Desk
Former senior royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has moved out of his Windsor residence, Royal Lodge, following renewed scrutiny triggered by the release of fresh documents linked to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew left the property late Monday and is currently staying at Wood Farm Cottage on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, where renovation work is underway at what will be his longer-term accommodation.
Buckingham Palace had earlier indicated that the relocation would take place in early 2026, but sources suggest the latest Epstein-related disclosures accelerated the timeline. The developments have intensified calls in the United States for Andrew to testify regarding his association with Epstein, allegations he has consistently denied.
The Palace announced Andrew’s departure from Royal Lodge in October, coinciding with the formal removal of his “Prince” title. Sandringham is privately owned by King Charles, who is covering the costs of his brother’s housing. Royal sources say Andrew is expected to eventually settle at Marsh Farm, also within the estate.
Handling Andrew’s position has long posed challenges for the Royal Family, with critics arguing that responses to the controversy have often been slow. His continued occupancy of Royal Lodge became emblematic of broader concerns around privilege, transparency, and the use of public assets amid the Epstein fallout.
Insiders say the move to Sandringham is intended to reduce Andrew’s public visibility. At the same time, Palace sources stress that while his judgment warranted consequences, he remains a family member, hence the provision of a privately funded residence.
Previously known as the Duke of York, Andrew is expected to return briefly to Windsor in the coming weeks to collect remaining belongings, but Norfolk is now his official base. He was last seen in Windsor on Monday, riding on horseback and later driving away from the Castle, images that reportedly did not go down well within Palace circles.
In October, Buckingham Palace confirmed that formal notice had been issued to surrender the Royal Lodge lease, following weeks of controversy over rental terms with the Crown Estate. According to a National Audit Office report, Andrew paid more than £8 million in 2003 under a 75-year lease arrangement, effectively prepaying notional rent of about £260,000 per year while covering repairs.
While the lease terms could have entitled him to compensation for early surrender, the Crown Estate has since told MPs that the property’s extensive repair needs mean he is unlikely to receive any payout.
Andrew’s ties to Epstein remain under investigation. Thames Valley Police are reviewing allegations that a woman was sent to the UK by Epstein in 2010 for a sexual encounter at Royal Lodge. The woman, a non-British national in her twenties at the time, alleges she stayed overnight at the royal residence.
Her lawyer, Brad Edwards, says she was later served tea and given a tour of Buckingham Palace. If substantiated, it would mark the first allegation of an Epstein-linked assault occurring at a royal property.
In 2014, Virginia Giuffre publicly accused Andrew of similar abuse, alleging she was trafficked by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell when she was 17. Andrew denied the claims. A US civil case was settled in February 2022 for an estimated £12 million. Giuffre died last year.
The release of millions of pages of documents and images by the US Department of Justice, including emails and photographs suggesting continued contact between Epstein and Andrew after Epstein’s conviction, has intensified pressure for Andrew to testify before the US Congress.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer recently said anyone with relevant information should be prepared to share it. Palace sources maintain that providing testimony is now a matter for Andrew and his conscience.”
Jeffrey Epstein died in a New York jail on August 10, 2019, while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Source: News Agencies
