The fate of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor‘s former home, Royal Lodge, is up in the air after the ex-prince vacated the property in Windsor Great Park in February after his connection to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein came to light.
The 30-room mansion, leased by the Crown Estate, will be available to rent from October, after Andrew’s lease ends.
© Getty ImagesThe Royal Lodge will be available for rent from October
The incoming tenant will need to pass rigorous security checks before signing the lease, and will need to commit hundreds of thousands of pounds to maintaining the famous property, with upkeep estimated to cost £400,000 a year.
Aside from these stipulations, the future leaseholder will need to allow the royal family access to the Royal Chapel of All Saints, which saw Princess Beatrice marry Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in 2020, and was also the location of the joint baptism of Princess Eugenie and Zara Tindall‘s two sons, August and Lucas, in 2021.
The Royal Lodge’s history
© Getty ImagesKing George VI and Queen Elizabeth previously lived at the Royal Lodge
The Royal Lodge has a long and storied history, having been the home of King George VI and his wife, Queen Elizabeth.
The Queen Mother returned to live at the Lodge after the death of her husband, and she remained there until her passing in 2002.
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After the Queen Mother’s death, Andrew took over the lease and spent millions of pounds on renovations, before moving into the home in 2003.
His ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, lived there with Andrew for many years until they were both forced to vacate in February 2026 amid pressure from King Charles.
Brush with the law
Andrew then moved to a home on the king’s private Sandringham estate in Norfolk, and Sarah avoided public scrutiny by travelling abroad.
The father of two was previously stripped of his royal titles and privileges in October 2025, and was then arrested at his new home at Marsh Farm on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
© Getty ImagesAndrew was arrested in February
The charges related to a period between 2001 and 2011, when he served as a trade envoy, with authorities alleging that he shared confidential material during this time.
He was released after 11 hours in custody, and the investigation is ongoing. Andrew has continued to deny any wrongdoing in relation to the investigation and to his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew’s home
© PA Images via Getty ImagesThe former prince now lives at Marsh Farm on the Sandringham estate
It was thought that Prince William and Princess Kate would move into the Royal Lodge and make it their new home; however, this rumour was quickly shut down, and the pair remain in Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
A report from Britain’s National Audit Office was released in June and revealed that Andrew had paid “peppercorn rent” during his time at the Lodge, symbolising a token payment that amounts to almost no rent.
The report also revealed that Andrew had rented out several homes on his property. “Three cottages on the Royal Lodge estate were…sublet with income generated from subletting payable to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor,” the report stated. “We do not know what rent was charged.”
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