Prince Andrew Has Been Told to Move Out of Royal Lodge After Weeks of Tension Inside the Royal Family
After weeks of quiet speculation and growing rumors, it’s now official: Prince Andrew has been asked to vacate Royal Lodge, the sprawling Windsor home he has lived in for over two decades. According to royal insiders, the decision comes directly from King Charles III, marking another major turning point in the ongoing effort to redefine the structure and spending of the modern British monarchy.
Royal Lodge, a grand 30-room residence located just a few miles from Windsor Castle, has long been one of the most prestigious homes in the royal estate. For years, it served as a symbol of Andrew’s standing within the family. But in recent months, the property became the subject of quiet tension between the Duke of York and the King, as questions mounted about whether Andrew — stripped of his royal duties and public funding — should continue living in such an expansive estate.
Sources close to the Palace told People that the move-out request was not sudden, but part of a long discussion between Andrew and the King. The monarch, who has spent the last year streamlining the royal household’s finances and public image, reportedly believes that maintaining Royal Lodge for a non-working royal is no longer justifiable. The decision, while pragmatic from the King’s perspective, is said to have left Andrew feeling “deeply unsettled” and “hurt.”
The Duke’s living arrangements have been under scrutiny ever since he stepped back from royal duties following his controversial ties to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. In 2022, he was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages and told he could no longer use the title “His Royal Highness” in any official capacity. Since then, he has kept a low profile, reportedly living quietly with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who also resides at Royal Lodge.
The property, however, is not just a home — it’s a piece of history. The Queen Mother lived there until her death in 2002, after which Andrew took over the lease. Reports suggest he spent millions of pounds renovating and maintaining the estate. That investment has made the situation complicated; while the property is Crown-owned, Andrew holds a long-term lease that technically allows him to stay — but royal insiders indicate that the King’s word will ultimately carry more weight than paperwork.
What comes next for Andrew remains uncertain. There is speculation he might move into Frogmore Cottage, the former home of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, which has been vacant since the Sussexes relocated to California. Others suggest he could downsize to a smaller residence within the Windsor estate. However, Andrew is reportedly reluctant to leave Royal Lodge, viewing it as one of the last remaining pieces of his royal identity.
Public opinion has been divided. Some see the decision as a long-overdue act of accountability within the monarchy, while others feel sympathy for Andrew’s situation, particularly given his long tenure in the home. Still, Buckingham Palace has made it clear: the King’s focus is on modernizing the monarchy and setting financial and ethical boundaries for its members.
For now, Prince Andrew remains at Royal Lodge, though preparations for his departure are reportedly underway. It marks another chapter in his slow retreat from royal life — one that began with scandal but has since turned into quiet isolation.
Behind the Palace gates, the move signals something larger: a monarchy that’s redefining itself under King Charles, shedding old traditions and making difficult decisions in pursuit of a cleaner, more transparent image. For Prince Andrew, it’s another reminder that in today’s royal world, privilege comes with limits — and even palaces can lose their princes.
