Andrew Will Reportedly Downsize To ‘Shoebox-Sized’ Home As He Prepares to Exit 30-Room Royal Lodge
The sources describe the new place as extremely compact and unable to accommodate most of his possessions from over 20 years.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is facing significant changes to his living conditions as he prepares to move from the vast Royal Lodge to smaller accommodation. The sources describe the new place as extremely compact and unable to accommodate most of his possessions from over 20 years.
As Mountbatten-Windsor is preparing to bid adieu to the Grade II-listed Royal Lodge and move into what has been described as a ‘shoebox-sized’ temporary accommodation, it will mark a significant contrast to the 30-room Windsor mansion he had occupied for over 20 years. As per the sources from the Daily Mail, the property he is expected to move into is under thorough renovations and may not be ready to reside in “for a long time,” leading him to go for interim housing. The source explained, “Andrew is going to a shoebox-sized house, compared to Royal Lodge, so a lot of the things that were taken are going into a storage unit.” They also added that about “80 per cent” of his belongings must go as part of the move.
Due to the sheer number of possessions, the relocation has reportedly become a prolonged and delicate operation. The source revealed that some anterooms in Royal Lodge are “piled to the ceiling with documents and photographs.” Meanwhile, another source added, “the clutter at Royal Lodge is turning what should be a straightforward move into a months-long, room-by-room excavation. These aren't the kind of belongings you can sweep into a skip. Even if Andrew wanted to move tomorrow, he couldn't.” The source continued, “a lorry has been and gone under the cover of darkness.” It is believed to have belonged to the royal household and to have transported the initial items to a Crown Estate storage facility in Windsor.
Amid speculations that Mountbatten-Windsor agreed to vacate his royal residence, reports also suggested he did so after negotiating for two other properties in return. Among the options, his top choice was Frogmore Cottage. It appears the disgraced royal may have secured his preference, as another source claimed that Frogmore is undergoing intensive renovations for his arrival. The timing of this development raised eyebrows, as many questioned how King Charles could swiftly evict the Sussexes from the property while seemingly allowing Andrew to move in. According to The Sun, tradespeople have been frequenting the property, fueling speculation that Andrew’s relocation is already underway.
As per an insider, “People have been inside Frogmore Cottage working day and night. Over the weekend, the lights were on after dark. It shouldn't need a lot of work done as Harry and Meghan spent £2.4million (approx. $3 million) on repairs just six years ago and no one has lived there since, apart from the few months Princess Eugenie was there during the COVID-19 lockdown.” Sightings of the contractors have intensified the debate about the apparent pace and scale of preparations for Andrew’s next chapter.
Despite these reported claims, Mountbatten-Windsor doesn’t seem to be in a rush to vacate Royal Lodge. As per The Times, a source said, “You're not going to see the removal vans outside Royal Lodge anytime soon.” Although the order required him to vacate the property by January 31, 2025, he surrendered his lease in October 2025. It has allowed him to remain until October next year under the 12-month notice protocol. Royal author Robert Jobson told Hello! that, “Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor seems to be kicking his heels.” After all, packing “20 years of his life into boxes” is an uphill battle. He continues to live at Royal Lodge with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, as uncertainties linger about where he will likely settle next.
