Waleses Relocate to Windsor, Now Closer to Disgraced Prince Andrew

Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Prince William have relocated, bringing them into closer proximity with the embattled royal Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, prior to his scheduled move from Royal Lodge.

As reported by The Telegraph on Saturday, November 1, the Prince and Princess of Wales formally took up residence at Forest Lodge within Windsor Great Park, following their earlier decision this year to vacate Adelaide Cottage. Although the royal couple had initially aimed to move into Forest Lodge closer to Christmas, the renovation work concluded sooner than anticipated. (William and Catherine are the proud parents of three offspring: Prince George, aged 12; Princess Charlotte, aged 10; and Prince Louis, aged 7.)

This expansive eight-room Georgian estate offers a greater array of features compared to their former four-room dwelling, such as six private bathrooms, a concealed fence designed for enhanced seclusion, a dedicated tennis court, and a sizeable ornamental pond.

According to royal commentator Rebecca English, who spoke to the Daily Mail in August, the couple plans to reside at Forest Lodge indefinitely, even once William ascends to the throne as King.

Prince Andrew Set to Relinquish Royal Lodge Residency Following Epstein Controversy

Although William and Catherine appear to have secured their “long-term residence,” this relocation has momentarily placed them in closer proximity to Andrew. The King's brother currently resides a mere two miles away, at Royal Lodge.

Andrew's continued occupancy of Royal Lodge has sparked significant public debate across the U.K., with his association with the deceased financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein persistently making headlines. Buckingham Palace declared on Thursday, October 30, that King Charles III had initiated proceedings to strip his brother, the former Duke of York, of his “style, titles, and honors.” (Andrew has consistently refuted any misconduct concerning his relationship with Epstein and the subsequent allegations that he sexually assaulted at least one minor, Virginia Giuffre, when she was 17 years old in 2001. A financial agreement was reached between the former Duke of York and Giuffre in 2022.)

In alignment with these measures, the Palace verified that Andrew would relinquish the lease on his present abode, Royal Lodge. Us has learned that he is expected to relocate to a property on the Sandringham estate, which will be privately financed by His Majesty.

“Prince Andrew will henceforth be referred to as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. His tenure at Royal Lodge has, until now, afforded him legal grounds to remain in residence,” a Buckingham Palace spokesperson informed Us Weekly on Thursday. “Official notification has now been issued for the surrender of the lease, and he will transition to different private lodgings. These disciplinary actions are considered essential, even though he maintains his denial of the accusations against him.”

Andrew's housing arrangement had long been viewed as an ongoing issue for the royal family, ever since he secured a highly advantageous lease for Royal Lodge in 2003. Under the terms of this agreement, Andrew paid £1 million for the 75-year lease and committed to investing £7.5 million in renovations, which were finalized in 2005, alongside an extra $2.5 million for a rent buyout. (Andrew never held direct ownership of the estate, as Royal Lodge falls under the management of the Crown Estate, the royal family's property administrators.)

This contractual arrangement was dubbed a “peppercorn lease” due to the fact that, following his initial payment, Andrew would ostensibly be required to pay only a minimal amount — or no rent whatsoever. London’s The Times reported in October 2025 that Andrew had, in fact, resided at Royal Lodge for 22 years without incurring substantial rental costs.

A definitive schedule for Andrew's departure from Royal Lodge has not yet been announced. His former spouse, Sarah Ferguson, has also been a resident of Royal Lodge since 2008, notwithstanding her divorce from Andrew a dozen years prior. She, too, will now need to seek alternative housing.

Concurrently, Us was informed that William completely endorsed King Charles’ choice to implement disciplinary measures against Andrew. Accounts of tension between the prince and his uncle have long circulated, with William advocating for firm consequences regarding Andrew’s association with Epstein and his partner, Ghislaine Maxwell. (Maxwell was found guilty of child sex trafficking offenses in June 2022 and received a 240-month sentence in federal prison. Epstein committed suicide at 66 years old in 2019 after being apprehended on federal sex trafficking accusations.)

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