Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has officially vacated Royal Lodge in Windsor and relocated to the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. The move took place on Monday night, with Mountbatten-Windsor currently residing in temporary accommodation while renovations are conducted on what is expected to be his new permanent residence at Marsh Farm, located within the estate.
Buckingham Palace announced in October 2023 that Mountbatten-Windsor would be leaving Royal Lodge, coinciding with the formal removal of his princely title. The palace confirmed that “formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease.” Although he is anticipated to return to Windsor in the coming weeks to retrieve his remaining personal belongings, royal insiders indicate that his official base is now in Norfolk.
In a final public appearance before his move, Mountbatten-Windsor was seen riding horseback near Royal Lodge on Monday before driving away while waving to passers-by. This relocation follows a period of scrutiny concerning the terms of his lease at Royal Lodge. A report from the National Audit Office revealed that when Mountbatten-Windsor took on the 75-year lease in 2003, he paid over £8 million upfront for repairs, effectively offsetting future rent obligations based on a notional annual rent of £260,000.
Under the initial arrangement, Mountbatten-Windsor could have been entitled to nearly £488,000 in compensation for an early lease surrender. However, a subsequent report from the Crown Estate to Members of Parliament concluded that the property requires extensive repairs, making it unlikely he will receive any compensation.
Financial Implications and Temporary Housing
The Sandringham Estate is privately owned by the King, who will cover the costs associated with Mountbatten-Windsor’s new housing. Royal sources had previously indicated that the move was postponed until the new year to avoid the embarrassment of Mountbatten-Windsor being present during the Christmas gatherings traditionally held by the Royal Family at Sandringham.
Originally purchased in 1862 by the then Prince of Wales, later known as King Edward VII, Sandringham spans approximately 31 square miles, roughly the size of Nottingham.
Mountbatten-Windsor’s relocation comes amid renewed scrutiny regarding his associations with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Thames Valley Police are currently assessing allegations related to a claim that a woman was sent to the UK by Epstein for a sexual encounter with Mountbatten-Windsor at Royal Lodge in 2010. The woman, who was not British and in her twenties at the time, has alleged that after spending the night at Royal Lodge, she was given tea and a tour of Buckingham Palace.
This marks the first instance where an alleged survivor of Epstein has claimed a sexual encounter occurred at a royal residence. In 2014, Virginia Giuffre publicly accused Mountbatten-Windsor of similar conduct, asserting that she was trafficked by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell when she was 17. Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied these allegations.
Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit in the United States in 2021, which was settled in February 2022 for an estimated £12 million. She passed away last year. The recent release of millions of pages of documents by the US Department of Justice has further intensified scrutiny, revealing images and emails allegedly linking Mountbatten-Windsor to Epstein during a period after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor. Epstein died in a New York prison cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Mountbatten-Windsor has not publicly responded to the recent allegations, maintaining his denial of any wrongdoing. The developments surrounding his relocation and ongoing scrutiny are likely to continue drawing public interest and media attention in the coming months.
