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Former Prince Andrew’s rapid fall from grace, culminating in his humiliating banishment to the Sandringham estate by Charles III, was astonishing.
His titles and honors are in the process of being formally stripped, and he will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, but he has been told to abandon his 75-year lease on the mansion Royal Lodge, where he has lived for more than 20 years.
It is not yet known exactly when Prince Andrew will leave Windsor, west of the British capital, London, for the royal retreat in rural Norfolk.
Here’s what we know about the expansive property Andrew will soon call home.
Andrew has agreed to move out of the 30-room royal residence he shared with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson in the grounds of Windsor Great Park and into a new home in Sandringham. The house was beloved by the late Queen Elizabeth II and is now said to be a favorite retreat for Andrew’s brother King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Buckingham Palace wants Andrew to move to a country estate about 160 miles north of London as soon as possible. But that won’t happen soon, a royal source told CNN on Friday. That’s because, just like buying a home, notices, lease terminations, and other procedures related to relocation can be lengthy.
Sandringham was purchased by Queen Victoria in 1862 for her eldest son and successor Albert, later King Edward VII, who had just turned 21. It has been the private residence of five generations of British monarchs and is where the royal family traditionally gathers to celebrate Christmas each year.
Sandringham is probably Norfolk’s most famous mansion on England’s east coast. This vast estate spans an estimated 20,000 acres and includes 600 acres of Royal Parks and approximately 150 properties.
Since its purchase, each monarch has contributed to its development over the years. The main building was completed in 1870, and a banquet hall was added 13 years later. Accommodation for guests and staff appeared in the 1890s. According to Sandringham’s website, a major renovation took place in 1975, when more than 100 rooms in the service building were demolished “to remove dry rot, save on utility bills, and move the kitchen closer to the dining room.”
This house was also where Queen Elizabeth II performed her first Christmas television broadcast in 1957.
The grounds include the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, which was used daily by the Windsor family as a place of worship during their residence. It is a tradition for families to walk there every Christmas morning and greet the wish-granters along the way.
The site also includes an organic farm, sawmill, residential and commercial facilities, and the local parish and community.
King George V described Sandringham as “the place I love more than anywhere else in the world”, and his son and Queen Elizabeth II’s father, George VI, once wrote: “I am always happy here and I love this place”.
The grounds’ gardens were the first part of the grounds opened to the public by King Edward VII in 1908. Queen Elizabeth II then opened the main building to the public in 1977 for the Silver Jubilee.
When Elizabeth ascended the throne in 1952, her husband Philip assumed responsibility for managing the winery. Conservation was central to his approach to ensure the preservation of this land for future generations.
So where does Andrew live?
Although no family currently resides permanently at Sandringham House, King Charles frequently visits the vast grounds. Within its vast grounds are several plots where the monarch can house her younger brother.
York Cottage, formerly known as Bachelor’s Cottage, was given by King Edward VII as a wedding present in 1893 to the then Duke and Duchess of York, the future King George V and Queen Mary. According to the London Times, in recent years it has been used as accommodation for holidaymakers and real estate staff, and is also used as Sandringham’s real estate offices. This was also reportedly being considered before Harry and Meghan stepped down as working royals.
A garden house is also a strong option. It was previously the home of the estate’s head gardener. This 4-bed, 3-bathroom property is currently being used as a holiday home. Sandringham’s website says: “This bright and airy red brick Edwardian property sleeps up to eight people and each room is thoughtfully decorated with a combination of rustic furniture, modern comforts and botanical print.”
The Folly is also an available property on this property. This is also offered to travelers seeking the opportunity to “experience the serene splendor” of Sandringham. The original building dates back to the 1800s and has served as a hunting lodge and space for women to enjoy afternoon tea over the years. It has three bedrooms, sleeps six people, and has a wrap-around balcony with a staircase leading to a turret, “offering panoramic views across the property,” according to the listing.
Park House is an addition to the property, but will require some work. This is where the former Princess of Wales Diana was born and spent much of her childhood. In the early 80s, the hotel was given to the charity Leonard Cheshire and converted into a hotel for disabled people. It was scheduled to be renovated in 2019, but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Wood Farm is a farmhouse on the property that has strong ties to Andrew’s parents. This is also where Andrew’s father, Prince Philip, was based after retiring from royal duties in 2017 at the age of 95. However, it is not believed that Andrew will end up there.
Another option, which seems highly unlikely, is Anmer Hall, which was gifted to Prince William and Duchess Kate by the late Queen when they married in 2013. Although the couple and their three children do not live there permanently, it is believed they still spend school breaks in the 10-bedroom Georgian property.
Andrew has been under intense scrutiny for weeks over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and is on the verge of losing his royal title, style and even his Windsor home.
The publication of Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir in October further fueled public outrage. In it, she reiterated her claim that she had sex with Andrew three times as a teenager while being trafficked by Epstein.
Andrew has always denied the allegations against him. However, it is understood that the king took the action because recent events threatened to spark fresh anger and further damage the monarchy’s reputation.
His decision to effectively banish his disgraced brother to Sandringham was made after consulting legal and constitutional experts, as well as his family and government.
Downing Street announced on Friday that it supported the King’s action to strip Andrew of his title and honours. “Our hearts go out to the family of Virginia Giuffre and all the victims of Jeffrey Epstein’s heinous crimes in this case. We must never forget that,” the spokesperson said.
British Defense Secretary John Healy told the BBC on Sunday that Andrew would also lose his last remaining rank of vice admiral in the Royal Navy, at the request of Charles III.
And who will pay for the moving expenses?
Sandringham House and the extensive grounds surrounding it have been passed down through generations and are the private property of the King.
By contrast, Andrew’s current home in Windsor is part of the Crown Estate, which manages the Crown’s lands and properties on behalf of the British state.
It is understood that the disgraced royal family will move to an undisclosed location, with the cost of the move being privately funded by Charles, who will also make financial provisions for his siblings.
His ex-wife Sarah Ferguson is also planning to move out of Royal Lodge, but she will not be joining Andrew at Sandringham as she plans to make her own living arrangements.
Queen Elizabeth II’s two Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Muik and Sandy, will remain in the care of Andrew’s family, Buckingham Palace confirmed to Britain’s PA media news agency on Friday. However, the palace did not say whether the dogs would remain with Mr Ferguson, head to Norfolk with Mr Andrew, or be passed on to his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
