Ex-Prince Andrew Issues a Strict Ban in Sandringham Ahead of Royal Lodge Exit
The ban signals an effort to draw the curtains early as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor prepares to leave his 30-room estate in early 2026.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor appears to be settling unfinished business at Sandringham before he even sets foot inside the property. Although Buckingham Palace is yet to confirm an official move-in date, new security measures in the area suggest preparations are underway. On December 14, it emerged that drones have been banned from flying over parts of the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. The move signals an effort to draw the curtains early as the disgraced royal prepares to leave Royal Lodge, a 30-room residence he has called home for the last two decades.
The no-fly zone has been extended to include Marsh Farm in Wolferton, around two miles west of Sandringham House, where the royal family traditionally spends Christmas. While the Estate has long operated under year-round flight restrictions, the expansion appears pointed. Drones have long been seen as a risk due to their ability to capture high-resolution images and thermal data. So, by widening the restricted area now, officials seem keen to close ranks before the former Prince’s relocation becomes official. Interestingly, Marsh Farm, a working property in a secluded pocket of the King’s Norfolk estate, has been widely tipped as Mountbatten-Windsor’s next residence.
Wolferton offers privacy with just a church and a social club nearby. The drone ban extension is supported by legislation, and the explanatory note of the same states, “In view of the need for security for members of the Royal Family and other dignitaries staying at or visiting Sandringham House and at the request of the security services, it has been agreed by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport that flying should be restricted in the vicinity of that location for reasons of public safety and security.” Still, despite these measures, when Mountbatten-Windsor will actually move remains an open question.
Royal author Robert Jobson has suggested that there’s no rush, and the former Prince will take his time before he hands over the keys to his Grade II-listed home. "Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor seems to be kicking his heels. The disgraced royal has made it clear to the King and courtiers who sent him packing, that he is going nowhere fast," he told HELLO!. While he was formally served to surrender his lease in October, Jobson argues, he won’t be moving from Royal Lodge until February. The author suggested Mountbatten-Windsor “will spend Christmas at Royal Lodge while the King invites the rest of his close family to Sandringham.”
On why the notice did not take immediate effect, Jobson suggested that it has to do with the disgraced royals’ “logistics.” He noted that relocating decades of accumulated belongings from a 30-room residence into what the Daily Mail previously described as a ‘shoe-sized’ home is not a simple task and requires time. A source told Mail that “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.” As a result of this, about “80 per cent” of his possessions will need to be left behind as part of the downsizing process.
