Prince Andrew will be formally stripped of his royal style, titles, and honours and will move out of Royal Lodge, it was announced on Thursday. Following the sweeping Buckingham Palace statement, the late Queen’s second son will be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, and will soon relocate to a private property on the Sandringham Estate – the private retreat of the King and Queen.
Andrew, as the leaseholder of Royal Lodge, has served notice to surrender the lease and he will move out as soon as practicable. He will relocate to a property on the private Sandringham Estate, it was also announced. Buckingham Palace has not revealed which house he will move to, but Andrew’s housing arrangements will be privately funded by the King. Sarah Ferguson, with whom he has lived at the Royal Lodge for over two decades, will make her own arrangements. The Sandringham Estate covers a 20-acre site in the parish of Sandringham, Norfolk, England, in the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The estate covers seven villages and has a number of properties – three of which are believed to be empty and could become Andrew’s new residence.
Sandringham House is one of the royal residences of Charles III. It was built between 1870 and 1892. Anmer Hall, meanwhile, is the main country home of the Prince and Princess of Wales, where they often spend their weekends and breaks.
Park House, built in 1863, was the birthplace of Diana, Princess of Wales. It was subsequently run as a hotel by the Leonard Cheshire charity, but it has since decided to continue the redevelopment and work with Sandringham Estate to exit the lease. This could become an option for Andrew, as it is currently not occupied.
Wood Farm has been part of the Sandringham Estate since the time of Edward VII. Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, lived at Wood Farm after retiring from royal duties in 2017. This property is also understood to be empty today.
York Cottage, also believed to be empty, was built to provide further accommodation for guests. Since 2000, it has been the estate office for the Sandringham Estate.
As part of the sweeping changes announced on Thursday, the King has sent Royal Warrants to the Lord Chancellor to secure the removal of the Dukedom of York from the Peerage Roll, and the Title of Prince and Style of ‘Royal Highness’. A royal source said: “These decisions have been the King’s, given the serious lapses of judgment which his brother has shown.”
