Prince Andrew and his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, are reportedly prepared to move out of their longtime residence at Royal Lodge but only if they are granted the use of Frogmore Cottage, the former UK residence of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The development comes amid renewed scrutiny over Andrew’s long-standing arrangement at the Windsor property and pressure from King Charles III to restructure royal housing and financial responsibilities.
According to reports, Andrew is considering relocating to Frogmore Cottage after it emerged that he has not paid rent on Royal Lodge for more than two decades. The Grade II-listed Royal Lodge, located in Windsor Great Park, has been Andrew’s primary residence since 2004, following extensive renovations undertaken after he secured a 75-year lease from the Crown Estate in 2003.
Andrew, 65, paid a premium of approximately $1.2 million to obtain the lease and invested nearly $9 million of his own funds into required refurbishments at the time. Under the terms of the agreement, because his refurbishment contributions surpassed the £5 million threshold set by the Crown Estate, he was exempt from paying additional annual rent.
However, the upkeep of the 30-room, 100-acre residence has reportedly become increasingly difficult for the Duke, especially following the loss of his public duties and income. Royal Lodge includes multiple auxiliary buildings such as Gardener’s Cottage, Chapel Lodge, six staff cottages, and police quarters all of which require ongoing maintenance.
Insiders say the King has been urging Andrew to downsize for several months, signaling that the time for Andrew and Ferguson to remain at the expansive property may be coming to an end.
King Charles, 76, is believed to have offered Frogmore Cottage to Andrew and Ferguson as a viable replacement. The property was previously occupied by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from 2019 until 2023, before the couple relocated to California. Frogmore Cottage features five bedrooms, a nursery, and security access within the established Windsor Castle perimeter meaning no new taxpayer-funded security or renovation costs would be required.
Another option under consideration is Adelaide Cottage, the former residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales before their recent move to a larger home. Adelaide Cottage contains four bedrooms and is also located within Windsor’s secure grounds.
Andrew reportedly favors remaining close to Windsor or near his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, who both maintain homes in London.
If Andrew and Ferguson vacate Royal Lodge, they would reportedly live separately for the first time in 20 years. Although divorced in 1996, the pair have cohabitated since 2008 and are widely known for maintaining an unusually close relationship.
Sources suggest the separation may be mutually beneficial at this stage. “They have been under immense strain this year and need a break from one another. It’s a fresh start for both,” one insider stated.
Royal insiders also believe that once Andrew and Ferguson move out, new tenants may be placed in Royal Lodge to help fund necessary restoration and maintenance.
Andrew and Ferguson have faced heightened public scrutiny due to their associations with Jeffrey Epstein. Earlier this month, Andrew confirmed he would no longer use his royal title or associated honors. “With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further,” he said in a statement. “As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”
While no official announcement has been made regarding the final relocation decision, palace insiders say discussions are ongoing and the future of Royal Lodge remains unresolved.
“No one is really sure how it’s going to go down at the Palace yet,” a source said. “But Andrew is realistic. He knows the writing is on the wall and that his time at Royal Lodge is up.”
