Room With A (Royal) View: Why Prince Andrew Is Fighting To Stay In His Huge Mansion

As scandal and scrutiny continue to shadow Prince Andrew, another question has emerged behind palace walls- will the disgraced Duke of York be allowed to keep living in Royal Lodge, the sprawling mansion he has called home for more than two decades?

Tucked inside Windsor Great Park, the 30-room Georgian estate has been Prince Andrew’s sanctuary since 2003. But amid reports that King Charles III wants his younger brother to move into Frogmore Cottage, the smaller residence once occupied by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Royal Lodge has suddenly become the setting for a very royal standoff.

Queen Elizabeth’s Permission

The late Queen Elizabeth II granted Prince Andrew the right to live at Royal Lodge under a 75-year lease. He reportedly paid £1

million for the deal and £7.5 million ($10 million) in renovations, which he was required to fund himself. Under the terms, annual rent- if demanded- is just “one peppercorn.”

Set across 99 acres of manicured parkland, the property includes a swimming pool, aviary, six cottages and even a miniature thatched playhouse gifted to Princess Elizabeth as a child- known as Y Bwthyn Bach or “The Little Cottage.”

Prince Andrew has lived there with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, despite their 1996 divorce, and hosted both their daughters’ wedding celebrations there- Princess Eugenie’s in 2018 and Princess Beatrice’s in 2020.

From Royal Favorite To Royal Problem

Once known as the Queen’s “favorite son,” Prince Andrew’s fall from grace has been dramatic. After his ties to Jeffrey Epstein surfaced, the Duke was stripped of his royal duties and military titles. He now lives a largely private life- without the financial support that once came with his public role.

Despite pressure from Buckingham Palace, Prince Andrew has reportedly refused to budge which has become a big problem for King Charles.