Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor may reportedly head to Balmoral this summer, but he won’t be staying at the historic royal residence. New reports claimed the King is “acutely conscious” of his brother’s mental health and that Andrew has been invited to Balmoral to “play golf”.
Staying at Craigowan Lodge
The former Duke of York has been lying low in Norfolk, where he found refuge after the latest bombshells emerged about his association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. He has always denied any wrongdoing. However, it is claimed that if Andrew accepts, he wouldn’t stay at the actual castle, but rather at nearby Craigowan Lodge.
Andrew has previously stayed at Craigowan Lodge several times, when the late Prince Philip had banned his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, from the main house.
A Private Retreat Close to the Queen's Heart
Craigowan Lodge is a smaller, more private cottage within the Balmoral Estate, very close to the late Queen Elizabeth’s heart. It is a rustic stone cottage, about a mile from the main Balmoral Castle, located on the edge of a forest and reportedly a calm and quiet retreat.
The late monarch would spend the first few days of her yearly summer holiday there before the tourist visiting season was over.
Former royal butler Paul Burrell said on behalf of Slingo: "That was her weekend retreat when she went to Balmoral. She didn't always go to the castle. She would go to Craigowan Lodge, which is a small stone-built house very near to the castle."
Mr Burrell added that the Queen always felt that "she never wanted to open up the big castle." He said: "It would cost too much, it would take too many staff to man it, and she didn't need a massive castle. She wanted a little cottage to retreat to."
History of the Lodge
Balmoral has been a royal private residence since Queen Victoria’s reign, when it was purchased by Prince Albert in 1852. Initially, when the royal couple visited Edinburgh as newlyweds, the Highlands reminded Prince Albert of his home back in Germany, and they decided it would be a perfect place to bring their young family.
In the 1980s, the seven-bedroom stone house was frequently used by Prince Charles and Princess Diana when they would visit Balmoral during the summer months. While the main castle is still open to the public, Craigowan Lodge is used by the Royal Family for privacy and is not open to tourists.
