What Happened to Royal Lodge?

Royal Lodge, nestled within Windsor Great Park, boasts a rich history dating back to the 17th century, evolving from a simple keeper's cottage to a significant royal residence. It became known as Royal Lodge in the 1820s during the reign of King George IV, who used it as a private retreat. Later, it served as a beloved country home for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, who extensively expanded it in the 1930s. Following Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's death in 2002, Royal Lodge became available for a new royal occupant.

In August 2003, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, secured a 75-year lease on Royal Lodge from the Crown Estate. The agreement stipulated a £1 million premium payment and a commitment from Prince Andrew to undertake significant refurbishment works, initially estimated at £7.5 million, in exchange for a symbolic 'peppercorn rent' thereafter. He moved into the property in 2004, and his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, also moved in with him in 2008. The property, encompassing approximately 30 rooms and 40 hectares of land, was valued at around £30-50 million by 2022-2024.

The turning point for Prince Andrew's residency at Royal Lodge began in November 2019 when he stepped down from public duties due to the controversy surrounding his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Pressure mounted on him to vacate the property, particularly after King Charles III's accession to the throne, who sought to streamline the monarchy and distance the institution from scandal. Reports emerged in 2023 that King Charles was considering cutting Andrew's annual allowance, which would impact his ability to maintain the expansive estate, estimated to cost millions annually for upkeep and security.

By late 2025, King Charles III escalated efforts to remove Prince Andrew from Royal Lodge. In October 2025, Buckingham Palace announced that Andrew's remaining royal titles and honours were being removed, and formal notice was served to surrender his lease. Although initial reports suggested an early 2026 departure, documents released by the Crown Estate in December 2025 revealed that Andrew had legally served a 12-month notice, entitling him to remain until October 2026. However, amid ongoing scrutiny and the release of further Epstein-related documents, Prince Andrew ultimately vacated Royal Lodge in February 2026, relocating temporarily to Wood Farm and then Marsh Farm on the King's private Sandringham estate.

Following Prince Andrew's departure, Royal Lodge stands vacant. In February 2026, the property was reportedly searched by police in connection with Andrew's arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office. A National Audit Office report in June 2026 further revealed that Andrew had received undisclosed rental income from sub-letting three cottages on the Royal Lodge estate. The future of Royal Lodge is now a subject of royal deliberation, with suggestions ranging from its reassignment to another senior member of the family, such as Prince William and Princess Catherine in the long term, to potential commercial uses, or even an offer to Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, as a gesture of reconciliation. Sarah Ferguson also left Royal Lodge in early 2026 and is reportedly renting a new property in the Home Counties as of August 2026.