Prince Andrew might be the last British royal to live in the Royal Lodge. He is currently in a dispute with King Charles III over the property. One option being considered is to leave the large home empty in the future. Here’s a look at what Andrew wants to happen with his longtime home and which British royals might move in if it doesn’t stay empty.
Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, currently live in the 30-room Royal Lodge in Windsor, England. In 2003, Andrew signed a 75-year lease with the Crown Estate, which means he still has 54 years left on it. He plans to honor this lease.
King Charles III is trying to get his 64-year-old brother, Andrew, out of the Royal Lodge because renovation costs are very high, and Andrew doesn’t have an official income as he’s no longer a working royal. Another option for the property, according to royal author Gareth Russell, is part of the King’s plan to reduce or change how royal properties are used.
Russell explained that it’s possible the Royal Lodge might not be used by another royal and could be repurposed. For example, Balmoral Castle, the royal family’s summer home in Scotland, is now open for tours when the royals are not there. Other royals could also move into the Royal Lodge.
The Royal Lodge has a significant history within the royal family. It was the last home of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, and has traditionally been given to senior royals. A logical choice for new residents would be the Prince and Princess of Wales. They currently live at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, England, with their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. They moved to Windsor in 2022 from Kensington Palace and seem happy with their current home.
Another possibility is Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. They are senior royals who might potentially move into the Royal Lodge. However, Andrew reportedly plans to pass the property down to his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, after his death.
This plan has its challenges. Renovating the Royal Lodge would be very expensive, and it’s unclear how Andrew would afford it. An insider mentioned that it might not make financial sense for Beatrice or Eugenie to take on the lease, as investing their money elsewhere would be wiser.
Beatrice and Eugenie used to live at the Royal Lodge but now have their own homes and families. Despite this, they still have family gatherings at the property, as their mother shared on a podcast in 2023.
