Inside Royal Lodge: The Queen Mother’s Beloved Windsor Home Turned Prince Andrew’s £30 Million Fortress — Complete With A Pool, Six Cottages, And A...

It’s one of the most private homes in the British royal portfolio — tucked behind Windsor Great Park’s ancient oaks and stately deer. But Royal Lodge, the 30-room Georgian mansion that has been Prince Andrew’s sanctuary since 2003, is once again under the spotlight. Following King Charles III’s reported decision to strip his brother of his “Prince” title and evict him from the property amid the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein scandal, public curiosity has reached fever pitch. What is this mysterious mansion that Andrew has so fiercely clung to? How did he come to live there? And what exactly lies behind those high hedges and guarded gates? Here’s everything you need to know about Royal Lodge — from its centuries-old royal history to its miniature fairy-tale

cottage and Andrew’s money troubles.

Why Prince Andrew Lives in Royal Lodge

Royal Lodge sits within Windsor Great Park, a sprawling 40-hectare (99-acre) estate just west of London. The late Queen Elizabeth II granted her third child the right to live there under a unique 75-year lease signed in August 2003. Andrew reportedly paid a modest £1 million for the lease — an astonishingly small sum considering the mansion’s grandeur — but agreed to shoulder the full cost of maintenance and renovations. According to a National Audit Office report, he spent an additional £7.5 million on refurbishments, completed in 2005. Under the quirky terms of his lease, rent “if demanded” was to be only one peppercorn per year — a symbolic nod to royal tradition. Within the estate, the property includes a swimming pool, six cottages, a gardener’s house, and even lodgings for police officers guarding the royal grounds. Fun fact: The home sits just a short stroll from Windsor Castle, Frogmore Cottage (once home to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle), and Forest Lodge, residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Two Centuries of Royal Residents

A house has existed on the site since the 1660s, though it was George IV — then the flamboyant Prince Regent — who gave it its royal identity in the early 1800s. He turned what was once a rustic hunting lodge into a luxurious private retreat and renamed it Royal Lodge. When George IV died in 1830, his brother William IV tore down much of the structure, and for the next century, the lodge served as a “grace and favour” residence for various royals and courtiers. The property underwent another major rebuild in the 1930s, retaining one room from George IV’s original design. One of its most famous residents was the young Princess Elizabeth — later Queen Elizabeth II — who moved there in 1932 with her parents, the then Duke and Duchess of York. It was in those very gardens that the future monarch spent much of her childhood before ascending the throne in 1952. Following her husband King George VI’s death, the Queen Mother made Royal Lodge her beloved Windsor home until her passing in 2002.

Andrew’s Makeover and Modern Touches

When the Queen Mother died, Andrew quickly stepped in to acquire the lease. Given its location inside the royal park and proximity to the Royal Chapel, the Crown Estate didn’t put the property on the open market — security and discretion were paramount. Prince Andrew’s renovation works included internal remodelling, repainting, upgraded lighting and cameras, and new tarmac at the gate — all approved by the local council. In true Windsor fashion, there’s also a conservatory, approved in 2001, and a separate single-storey building for the Royal Protection officers.

The Queen’s Fairy-Tale Playhouse

Perhaps the most charming corner of the estate is Y Bwthyn Bach — Welsh for “Little Cottage.” This miniature thatched home was gifted to Princess Elizabeth by the people of Wales for her sixth birthday. It’s complete with working lights, a tiny fridge from the 1930s, miniature crockery, and dainty furniture. In the BBC documentary The Diamond Queen (2012), Princess Beatrice described it as “the most glamorous Wendy house ever.” She even led its restoration herself, ensuring it was rethatched and rewired for another generation of royal children to enjoy.

Royal Weddings and Private Parties

Royal Lodge has witnessed many intimate family moments. In 2018, it hosted the post-wedding celebration of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank after their ceremony at St George’s Chapel. Two years later, Princess Beatrice tied the knot nearby in a small ceremony during the pandemic. The lodge, with its rolling gardens and regal architecture, has long been a cherished family haven — even as it remains a magnet for tabloid intrigue.

Money Matters and Mansion Mysteries

Prince Andrew’s finances have long been a source of speculation. Estimates of his net worth vary from £3.7 million to £5.5 million, though the Daily Mail and The Times have noted that he was recently able to raise funds “from legitimate sources” to cover Royal Lodge’s upkeep. His income is believed to come from a mix of investments and a Royal Navy pension worth around £20,000 a year. He no longer receives a royal stipend since stepping down from public duties in 2019. In 2022, he sold his Swiss chalet in Verbier for nearly £20 million, having originally bought it with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson in 2014. Earlier, in 2007, he sold his former Berkshire home, Sunninghill Park, to Kazakh businessman Timur Kulibayev for £15 million. His car collection includes a Range Rover (registration KN74 EFK) and a Bentley once valued at £220,000. However, reports persist about his financial difficulties — particularly regarding the £12 million settlement paid to Virginia Giuffre, allegedly with help from Queen Elizabeth II.

A Palace Under Pressure

Royal Lodge isn’t just a house — it’s a symbol of shifting royal power. Once a refuge for the Queen Mother’s quiet grace, it has become a flashpoint in the modern monarchy’s drive for accountability and reform. Whether Andrew stays or goes, the 30-room mansion remains a living museum of royal history, its lawns echoing with the laughter of generations past — and perhaps, the whispers of scandal that refuse to fade.