Andrew Mountbatten Windsor is set to relocate to Sandringham estate in Norfolk, after it was announced that he is to leave his residence at the Royal Lodge in Windsor, and be stripped of his royal titles.

The former prince’s accommodation will be privately funded by the King. His ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, will have to find her own residence.

The move follows renewed scrutiny of Andrew’s ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Earlier this month, he relinquished his Duke of York title and said in a statement: “Continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family.”

The 65-year-old younger brother of the king has always denied any wrongdoing.

There is no modern precedent for a loss of royal status in this manner. The removal of his title and eviction from his official residence is a pivotal moment for the British Royal Family and survivors of sexual abuse linked to disgraced financier Epstein.

Where Is Sandringham?

The Sandringham Estate is located in the parish of Sandringham in the county of Norfolk, England, in the East Anglia region of the country. It is 140 miles from Buckingham Palace in London, which is a three-and-a-half-hour drive.

Diana, Princess of Wales, was born on the estate, in Park House, on July 1, 1961. Her parents had leased the home, close to the main Sandringham House residence, which is surrounded by around 20,000 acres of land. This includes parkland, gardens, farmlands and woods.

Sandringham is privately held by the monarch, as opposed to being part of the Crown Estate.

Who Lives at Sandringham?

Sandringham has been the private home of five generations of British monarchs for over 150 years. It was previously not designated as a home for any member of the royal family.

It is often used to host family engagements, including Christmas,

Sandringham is a favorite of King Charles and Queen Camilla, and was beloved by Queen Elizabeth II.

Generally, it is used as a country residence for the royal family. King Charles spent time there during his treatment for cancer, while Queen Elizabeth II would spend her winter months there.  

The Prince and Princess of Wales also have a property on the Sandringham estate, a 10-bedroom Georgian country house called Anmer Hall. Queen Elizabeth gifted it to Prince William and Princess Kate when they were married. The property underwent a $2 million renovation when it came into their possession, and the Princess is said to have spent time there during her cancer treatment.

Where Will Former Prince Andrew Live In Sandringham?

It has not been announced to the public where exactly in Sandringham the disgraced prince will reside. There are 150 properties on the estate. One of them is Wood Farm, a five-bedroom farmhouse that some have speculated could be Andrew Windsor’s new home.

Though it is unclear exactly where he will reside, it is likely to be a downsizing from the Royal Lodge, a 30-room mansion he has lived in for more than 20 years.

What Is the History of Sandringham?

Sandringham has been a royal residence since 1862.

It was purchased for Albert Edward, Prince of Wales—later Edward VII—as a home for him and his future wife, Princess Alexandra of Denmark.

After his death in 1910, it passed to his son and heir, George V. The estate then passed to his son Edward VIII. At his abdication—when he deserted the throne to marry divorced American socialite, Wallis Simpson—it was purchased by his brother, George VI.

On George VI’s death, it passed to his daughter Elizabeth II. Upon the Queen’s death, it was passed to King Charles III.

In 1977, to mark her Silver Jubilee, the Queen opened Sandringham and its grounds, including a museum, farm, and gardens, to the public.

Why Was Andrew Windsor Stripped of His ‘Prince’ Title?

Virginia Giuffre filed a lawsuit in New York, which said that Prince Andrew had raped her when she was a 17-year-old victim of Jeffrey Epstein, and said she was trafficked to London, New York, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to have sex with the royal.

Andrew denied these allegations and settled out of court for an undisclosed sum in 2022 without admitting liability.

These allegations were never tested before a jury. Giuffre died by suicide earlier this year.

Pressure has been building on the monarchy to impose some form of accountability for two main reasons.

The first is the publication of Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, Nobody’s Girl, released in October, which contained her allegations against Andrew and the wider story of her being abused by Epstein.

The other is a series of emails sent by Andrew around the time of Giuffre’s first newspaper interview in February of 2011, which recently emerged in the British press.

One email appears to show that he asked a police protection officer to dig up dirt on Giuffre. The Metropolitan Police has said it is “actively looking into” the reports.

On October 17, Buckingham Palace released a statement from Andrew where he voluntarily said he was giving up the use of his Duke of York title, alongside a number of others.

“In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded that the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family. I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life,” he said.

That statement continued, “With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”

Palace sources now say that further action was inevitable, but it had taken time to establish the logistics.

What Did King Charles III Say About His Brother?

The full statement from Buckingham Palace reads:

“His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew.

Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence. Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation. These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.

Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”