The former Prince Andrew is set to move to the Sandringham estate after King Charles III formally removed his royal titles amid alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
UK residents react as Prince Andrew is stripped of royal titles
Residents and royalists in the U.K. reacts to Prince Andrew losing his royal titles and residence as King Charles III acts on Epstein scandal fallout.
The former Prince Andrew is in the royal doghouse amid his alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein, but the disgraced former prince isn’t going far.
Andrew, who continues to come under scrutiny for his relationship with the late financier and sex offender, has been forced to leave his royal residence at the Royal Lodge after Andrew’s brother, King Charles III, initiated the formal process to remove the style, titles and honors of his status. The prince, 65, will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, Buckingham Palace announced in an Oct. 30 statement.
Andrew is slated to move to a property on the private Sandringham estate. However, the palace said it will not offer any further details, simply adding “any future accommodation will be privately funded by” Charles.
Andrew and his family had been living at the Royal Lodge, a Grade II listed house located in Windsor Great Park in Berkshire, England, since 2004, following the death of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 2002. Andrew was effectively living rent-free at the royal residence after paying £1 million ($1.3 million) for the 2003 lease, as well as at least £7.5 million (approximately $10 million) for refurbishments completed in 2005.
As part of the rental agreement’s 75-year term, Prince Andrew and his family were previously allowed to remain at the Royal Lodge until 2078, according to a copy of the lease obtained by USA TODAY.
Although he has vehemently denied allegations of sexual abuse in connection with Epstein, Andrew renounced his royal titles on Oct. 17 due to the continued accusations against him, including damning claims brought forth in accuser Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, “Nobody’s Girl.”
Giuffre, who died in April, filed a sex abuse lawsuit against Andrew in 2021, alleging that she had been trafficked to the British royal family member by Epstein three times around 2001 when she was underage. Andrew settled the suit in 2022.
Here’s what to know about Andrew’s new home at the Sandringham estate.
Where is Sandringham estate located?
The Sandringham estate, a private residence owned by King Charles III, is located in Norfolk, England, approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes from the Royal Lodge, Prince Andrew’s previous residence.
King Charles III inherited the property from his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, following her September 2022 death. A part of the architectural lineage of the royal family, Queen Victoria purchased the residence for her son, King Edward VII, when he was in his early 20s.
Sandringham estate is a royal hotspot for King Charles III, Prince William and Princess Kate
Prince Andrew will likely be in good company at the Sandringham estate.
The sprawling property, which totals approximately 20,000 acres, has become something of a royal hotspot over the years, as the site has hosted many events for the British royal family.
One of the estate’s features includes St Mary Magdalene Church, a medieval church used by the royal family for various special occasions, including Princess Charlotte’s christening. King Charles III was spotted on Sunday, Nov. 2, arriving for a church service.
Charles isn’t the only royal to frequent St Mary Magdalene for worship. The church has become a part of Prince William and Princess Kate’s Christmas tradition, with the couple taking their children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis — for holiday service as recently as December 2024.
Where will Prince Andrew live in Sandringham estate?
It is unclear where Prince Andrew will be living on the Sandringham estate, which includes several residential properties. Buckingham Palace previously said it would not be disclosing additional details on Andrew’s living arrangement.
Apart from Sandringham House, the country house of King Charles III, the estate also features Anmer Hall, Park House, Wood Farm and York Cottage.
Anmer Hall, a Georgian house purchased by King Edward VII in 1896, serves as the main country home of Prince Wiliam and Princess Kate.
Park House, built by King Edward VII in 1863, was the birthplace of Princess Diana when the house was lent to her father, John Spencer, the 8th Earl Spencer. It was subsequently run as a hotel by the Leonard Cheshire charity. Plans for a multimillion-dollar refurbishment in 2019 were later scrapped, due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wood Farm was the home of Prince John, the youngest child of King George V and Queen Mary, in the early 20th century. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and husband of Queen Elizabeth II, later moved to the residence after retiring from royal duties.
Originally known as Bachelors’ Cottage, York Cottage was built by King Edward VII to provide accommodations for guests and was home to King George V from 1893 to 1925. In 2000, the property became the official office of the Sandringham estate.
Contributing: Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY
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