Andrew is Ready to 'Get On With His Life’ And Vacate Royal Lodge Ahead of 66th Birthday
If the renovations around Andrew's alleged new residence get completed ahead of time, he could be marking his 66th birthday away from Windsor.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor may be vacating Royal Lodge sooner than many would have thought. The disgraced royal has lived at the Grade II-listed property for more than two decades; however, despite his alleged desire to stay, things have changed drastically for him in the last few months. After King Charles stripped him of his titles, he was also asked to surrender his ‘cast-iron’ lease of the 30-room property, and will soon be moving to a smaller residence on the monarch’s Sandringham Estate. Though not confirmed, Marsh Farm is widely tipped to be his next home, with reports suggesting that renovations are in full swing at the property. If the work is completed ahead of time, the former Duke could be marking his 66th birthday in an entirely new setting.
As per the Daily Mail, workers were spotted around the run-down Marsh Farm at Sandringham with wooden fences erected around the property to ensure renovations are completed privately and to make it more secure for the disgraced royal. A JCB digger, as well as a team of electricians, was seen carrying out repairs to make the five-bedroom farmhouse liveable, including fitting CCTV cameras. At least six workers were seen moving in and out of the building, and a vehicle from a specialist security firm was also seen on site. With these preparations underway, the former Duke might shift to his new residence ahead of his 66th birthday on February 19. If not, then it will be before Easter.
Discussing Mountbatten-Windsor’s new living arrangements and the ongoing renovations, a Daily Mail source noted, “The snow or rain hasn't delayed the work on Marsh Farm, but it still needs a lot of attention to make it habitable.” They shared that despite the work being done at the property, it is still significantly smaller and ‘less luxurious’ than Royal Lodge. Speaking to The Sun, a friend of the former Duke weighed in on the transition, suggesting that Mountbatten-Windsor has finally decided to move on with his life. “He's finally decided he needs to get on with his life and so is moving out sooner than he thought and starting afresh by the end of the month, or at least before his birthday in February,” his friend told the outlet.
While Mountbatten-Windsor is said to be turning a new leaf, for a once 'entitled' prince, the run-down Marsh Farm is seen as a major step down. In fact, he reportedly had his eyes set on two very different properties. When asked to give up his lease, reports suggested that he was eyeing Prince Harry’s Frogmore Cottage. Later, it is believed he requested to move into Wood Farm, the property where his father, Prince Philip, spent his retirement years. Deemed ‘too close’ to the rest of the royal family, this request of his was also allegedly denied.
With no official announcement made by Buckingham Palace yet, experts have offered their theories on where Mountbatten-Windsor might actually end up. Speaking to PEOPLE, royal author Robert Jobson suggested that the disgraced royal might relocate to the Middle East, as the Norfolk property is simply not his style. “I just can’t see him being on an isolated farm in Sandringham,” Jobson remarked.
