LONDON (AP) — Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, the disgraced younger brother of King Charles III, is going into internal exile that will see him further hidden from view amid a clearly angry British public. His ejection from the 30-room Royal Lodge on the grounds of Windsor Castle to one of the properties on the king’s private estate at Sandringham in the east of England will symbolize the downfall of the one-time prince and duke.
Though he’s lost his perks of title and status, Andrew, 65, will not be slumming it. But it is a banishment nonetheless that leaves him increasingly exposed to scrutiny both in the U.K. and the U.S. over his friendship with the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew denies allegations of improper behavior during his long friendship with Epstein, including claims from Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who alleged she had sex with the ex-prince when she was 17. Following years of scandals related to Andrew, Charles arguably took the biggest step of his reign Thursday by seeking to insulate the monarchy from any exposure emanating from Andrew’s connections with Epstein.
Epstein took his own life in prison in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges, more than a decade after his initial conviction.
### Andrew’s Eviction Won’t Happen Too Quickly
Andrew has been given notice that his time at Royal Lodge, the mansion near Windsor Castle where he has lived for more than 20 years, is coming to an end. He signed a 75-year lease in 2003 with the Crown Estate, a portfolio of properties that is nominally owned, but not controlled, by the monarch.
He invested a required £7.5 million ($9.9 million) to refurbish the home and has resided there for the annual sum of a peppercorn — a symbolic figure often used to satisfy the legal requirement of real estate transactions.
His move won’t happen overnight. As everyone knows, moving house is an ordeal at the best of times, regardless of the size of the dwelling. It will certainly take Andrew, and whoever he can get to help him, a fair chunk of time to sort through his belongings, decide what to take, donate to charity, or discard.
There’s also the delicate matter of dividing possessions with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who has lived with Andrew at Royal Lodge since 2008 but will not be moving on to Sandringham at Charles’ expense.
With Christmas looming, the timing might actually work to the royal family’s advantage as they seek to isolate Andrew. The last thing 76-year-old King Charles and his heir, Prince William, will want is Andrew within shouting distance on Christmas Day. During the holiday, members of the royal family traditionally attend St. Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham Estate, followed by a grand banquet at Sandringham House, the king’s main residence.
### Andrew’s New Home Was Loved by Monarchs
The expectation is that Andrew will move to his new home in one of the U.K.’s least densely populated counties after the holiday festivities conclude.
The Sandringham Estate is not an official royal residence, meaning it’s not owned by the state — a fact Charles will hope keeps a lid on public anger. Charles will fund Andrew’s relocation and provide his brother with an annual stipend from his private resources. This effectively ensures Andrew will not live out his later years at the expense of the British taxpayer.
Sandringham, the private home of the last six British monarchs, sits amid parkland, gardens, and working farms about 110 miles (180 kilometers) north of London. The estate has been owned by the royal family since 1862, passing directly from one monarch to the next for more than 160 years.
Recorded in the Domesday Book, the survey of lands in England compiled by William the Conqueror in 1086, as “Sant Dersingham” (meaning the sandy part of Dersingham), the name was eventually shortened to Sandringham.
Queen Victoria bought Sandringham for her eldest son, Edward, in 1862, largely hoping that becoming a country gentleman would keep the playboy prince out of trouble in the nightlife hubs of London, Paris, Monte Carlo, and Biarritz. The future Edward VII transformed the estate into a modern country retreat to be passed on from one generation to the next.
Monarchs since have inherited and cherished the estate. Charles, for example, was a fan from a young age, joining shooting parties in the 1950s. One famous photograph shows him blowing a miniature hunting trumpet while sitting on horseback.
### Choices, Choices
There is growing speculation that Andrew will not move to Wood Farm on the estate, the property favored by his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and father, Prince Philip, who preferred its cosy surroundings to the grandiose main residence.
However, several other properties are available for Andrew’s relocation.
**Park House** — The birthplace and childhood home of Diana, Princess of Wales, who lived there until the death of her grandfather in 1975.
**York Cottage** — Former home of King George V before he became monarch in 1910. This cottage, which is not small by traditional standards, has multiple bedrooms and a nearby lake. It was reportedly earmarked for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle before they stepped back from royal duties.
York Cottage does have one potential downside: it shares the name of the dukedom Andrew once held, which would serve as a constant reminder of his past status and recent fall from grace.
Another option could be **Gardens House**, once home to the estate’s head gardener. It features four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and is currently used as a holiday rental according to Sandringham’s website.
Lastly, there is **The Folly**, a hunting lodge and venue historically used for afternoon tea by ladies of the family. It has only three bedrooms, making it a substantial downsizing for Andrew — though as a single man, he may not require more space.
—
Andrew’s move to Sandringham marks a significant shift in his standing within the royal family — a move designed to keep him out of the public eye while maintaining a degree of dignity in exile. The coming months will reveal how he adapts to his new life away from Windsor and the glare of royal spotlight.
https://mymotherlode.com/news/europe/10134156/andrew-will-head-into-exile-at-king-charles-private-and-remote-sandringham-estate.html
