New details on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's Royal Lodge home emerge
Andrew technically has an entire year before he needs to vacate Royal Lodge
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor could remain at Royal Lodge until October 2026, according to newly released documents from the Crown Estate.
On Tuesday, the Crown Estate confirmed that Andrew formally served notice on his lease of Royal Lodge on October 30, 2025, triggering a 12-month notice period.
According to The Telegraph, this means that, in theory, Andrew has the right to reside in Royal Lodge until October 30, 2026.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor could stay in Royal Lodge for another year
However, sources close to the Royal Household have indicated that Andrew may not stay the full year.
According to reports, he is expected to relocate to the Sandringham estate in Norfolk as soon as his new home is ready, with a likely move date in the first quarter of 2026.
Andrew originally secured the 75-year lease on Royal Lodge in 2003. He reportedly paid £8.5 million up front to cover renovation costs and rent in advance.
Although he technically pays a symbolic sum, a peppercorn rent, the arrangement has drawn heavy criticism, especially in light of the former prince’s links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
As part of the lease, Andrew could have been eligible for a £488,000 compensation payout upon leaving early. But that has now been ruled out.
The property is reportedly in a state of dilapidation. A clause in the lease stated that any compensation was conditional on proper maintenance. The Crown Estate concluded that the current state of the house would void any payback.
This situation has caught the attention of politicians. The Public Accounts Committee now plans to investigate the lease arrangements of royal homes.
“The information provided forms the beginnings of a basis for an inquiry,” said chair Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown. A formal review will take place in early 2026.
Although Parliament can’t force royals to testify, they can request their input. Andrew may be invited to speak, but it would not be mandatory.
Andrew allegations
The focus on Andrew’s residency comes after a series of high-profile scandals and the formal removal of his remaining royal honours.
On December 1, The Gazette, the UK’s official public record, published a notice confirming that King Charles had removed Andrew from the registers of the Order of the Garter and the Royal Victorian Order.
This followed a wider backlash over Andrew’s long-standing friendship with Epstein.
In 2019, after a disastrous BBC Newsnight interview, Andrew stepped back from royal duties. In 2021, he was sued in the US by Virginia Giuffre. Ms Giuffre accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17 after she was trafficked by Epstein.
Andrew has always vehemently denied the allegations. He ultimately settled the case in 2022 without admitting liability.
Since then, the pressure on Andrew to leave Royal Lodge has intensified. The king cut financial support to his brother, hoping the lack of resources would push him to vacate the property.
For more than a year, Andrew resisted, reportedly refusing to downsize or relocate. That resistance now appears to have ended.
Andrew’s final months at Royal Lodge appear to be numbered. A move to Sandringham, King Charles’ private Norfolk estate, will mark a significant downgrade from the 30-room mansion he’s occupied for over two decades.
Royal Insider has contacted reps for Andrew for comment.
Read more: King Charles officially strips Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of final royal honours
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