Removal vans rolled into Windsor Great Park on January 14, 2026, marking the start of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s exit from the sprawling Royal Lodge, a 30-room mansion worth £30-35 million ($37-42 million). This move, accelerated amid financial strains and royal directives, ends over two decades of residence for the former prince, now stripped of titles following his Epstein ties.
Stakes Reportedly Rising
Workers loaded trucks for about three hours at the 98-acre estate, which includes Chapel Lodge and several cottages. Palace lawyers oversee the separation of Crown-owned items from personal belongings as the voluntary lease surrender deadline nears on January 31. Without public funding since 2022, reports suggest Andrew and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who shared the home since 2008 despite their 1996 divorce, eye asset sales including jewelry, papers, and memorabilia for financial relief. These details stem from unnamed sources and lack palace confirmation.
Royal Lodge Legacy
The property housed the Queen Mother until 2002. Andrew secured a 75-year lease in 2003 for £1 million upfront, plus £7.5 million in renovations, settling in by 2004 with the lease running to 2078. A Crown Estate survey on November 12, 2025, flagged major repairs, with costs potentially over £488,000. Handover preparations follow standard protocols distinguishing estate assets from private ones.
Mounting Palace Pressure
King Charles ordered Andrew’s departure in 2023, first proposing Frogmore Cottage before shifting to Sandringham’s smaller Marsh Farm in Norfolk. A formal lease surrender notice arrived October 30, 2025, allowing stay until October 2026, but voluntary exit advances to late January or early February, ahead of Andrew’s February 19 birthday. Public funding ended fully, and titles like Prince and Duke were revoked in October 2025, formalizing his status as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Palace frustration grew over delays in resolving the matter.
Epstein Shadow Lingers
Scrutiny intensified in 2019 over Jeffrey Epstein links, prompting Andrew’s public duties withdrawal in November 2019 and loss of military titles and patronages in January 2022. A February 2022 out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre, reportedly over £12 million and backed partly by Queen Elizabeth II, strained finances further. No public duties have resumed, denting the monarchy’s image amid global coverage.
Family Faces Split
Sarah Ferguson seeks a Windsor-area home, separating the pair after nearly 20 years together at Royal Lodge. Queen Elizabeth II’s corgis, Muick and Sandy, live there now; palace confirmation notes they stay with the family, though plans are unclear. Personal collections require division. Marsh Farm renovations include broadband, CCTV, and fencing, described as temporary until Easter.
Leadership Shift at Play
Charles advances a slimmed-down monarchy, reclaiming Royal Lodge for reallocation. Other royals, like the Prince and Princess of Wales, pay market rents on Crown Estate properties. Andrew’s routine now centers on riding, golf, and television, with experts seeing no return to duties. His £7.5 million renovations may offset some repair claims, but pressures persist.
This relocation underscores evolving monarchy policies on non-working royals, prioritizing asset protection and accountability. It sets precedents for handling fallen members, balancing legacy preservation with modernization amid ongoing Epstein fallout.
Sources:
GB News – Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor suffers blow as removal vans arrive at Royal Lodge – 14 Jan 2026
Realitytea.com – Ex-Prince Andrew’s Eviction Process From Royal Lodge Ramps Up: Report – 15 Jan 2026
Marie Claire – Former Prince Andrew’s Royal Lodge Eviction Is Now Happening Sooner Than Expected – Jan 2026
Geo.tv – Andrew’s moving trucks arrive at Royal Lodge as eviction gets fast-tracked – 14 Jan 2026
The Royalist Substack – Removal Trucks at Andrew’s Royal Lodge as Eviction Appears Imminent – Jan 2026
BBC News – Prince Andrew stripped of military titles and patronages – 13 Jan 2022