Waleses Move Closer to Prince Andrew Amid Royal Lodge Eviction Drama

Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Prince William have taken up residence nearer to the embattled royal Andrew Mountbatten Windsor for a period, prior to his scheduled move from Royal Lodge.

According to a report by The Telegraph on Saturday, November 1, the Prince and Princess of Wales formally relocated to Forest Lodge within Windsor Great Park, having chosen to vacate their former residence, Adelaide Cottage, earlier in the year. The royal couple had initially planned to establish themselves at Forest Lodge around the Christmas period, however, the building work concluded ahead of schedule. (Prince William and Catherine are raising three children: Prince George, aged 12; Princess Charlotte, aged 10; and Prince Louis, aged 7.)

This Georgian-style mansion, comprising eight rooms, offers significantly more features than their prior four-room dwelling, such as six washrooms, a concealed fence for enhanced seclusion, a private tennis court, and an expansive water feature.

Rebecca English, a royal commentator, informed the Daily Mail in August that the pair planned to reside at Forest Lodge indefinitely, even following William's eventual ascension to the throne.

Prince Andrew Set to Vacate Royal Lodge as Epstein Scandal Persists

Although Prince William and Catherine might have discovered their “long-term residence,” this relocation has, for the time being, positioned them geographically nearer to Mountbatten Windsor. The uncle of Prince William currently resides merely two miles away at Royal Lodge.

The presence of Mountbatten Windsor at Royal Lodge has generated considerable contention across the U.K., with his association with the deceased financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein remaining a prominent news topic. Buckingham Palace confirmed on Thursday, October 30, that King Charles III initiated proceedings to strip his brother of his “style, titles, and honours” previously held as the Duke of York. (Mountbatten Windsor has maintained his innocence concerning his relationship with Epstein and the ensuing allegations that he sexually assaulted at least one minor, Virginia Giuffre, at the age of 17 in 2001. The former Duke and Giuffre came to a monetary agreement in 2022.)

In light of these developments, the Palace verified that Mountbatten Windsor would relinquish the tenancy of his present abode, Royal Lodge, and relocate to a Sandringham property financed personally by the King.

“Prince Andrew will henceforth be referred to as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. His occupancy agreement for Royal Lodge has, until now, afforded him legal grounds to remain in residence,” a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace informed Us Weekly on Thursday. “Official notification has now been issued for him to cede the lease, and he will transfer to different private lodgings. These disciplinary actions are considered essential, despite his ongoing denials of the accusations made against him.”

The arrangement for Mountbatten Windsor's residence had long been a persistent issue for the monarchy, ever since he acquired a highly advantageous lease for Royal Lodge back in 2003. Under the terms of this deal, Mountbatten Windsor paid £1 million for the 75-year tenancy, in addition to pledging £7.5 million for renovations completed in 2005, and a further $2.5 million for a rent purchase agreement. (Mountbatten Windsor never held outright ownership of the estate, as Royal Lodge falls under the management of the Crown Estate, the royal family's property administrators.)

This contract was termed a “peppercorn lease,” signifying that Mountbatten Windsor would, in practice, be required to pay only a token amount — or potentially no rent whatsoever — subsequent to his initial payment. The Times of London stated in October 2025 that Mountbatten Windsor had, in fact, resided at Royal Lodge for 22 years without substantial rental payments.

An official schedule for Mountbatten Windsor's departure from Royal Lodge has not yet been established. His former spouse, Sarah Ferguson, has similarly occupied Royal Lodge since 2008, notwithstanding her divorce from Mountbatten Windsor twelve years prior. She too will now need to secure new living arrangements.

Concurrently, Us obtained information indicating that Prince William entirely endorsed King Charles' resolution to impose sanctions on Mountbatten Windsor. Persistent accounts have detailed animosity between the prince and his uncle, with William advocating for decisive measures regarding Mountbatten Windsor’s association with Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. (Maxwell was found guilty of child sex trafficking offenses in June 2022 and received a sentence of 240 months in federal correctional facility. Epstein took his own life at 66 years old in 2019 after being apprehended on federal sex trafficking indictments.)

Should you or an acquaintance be a victim of human trafficking, please reach out to the National Human Trafficking Hotline by calling 1-888-373-7888.