The Duke of York, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, is preparing for a significant life change as he is set to vacate his long-term home, Royal Lodge, ahead of schedule. According to a close friend, the former prince aims to be out of the Windsor residence before his 66th birthday on 19 February 2026 and is ready to 'start afresh'.
A New, More Modest Home on Sandringham
His new residence will be Marsh Farm, a property on the King's Sandringham estate in Norfolk. However, the farmhouse is currently in a state of disrepair and requires substantial renovation to make it habitable. Workers have been spotted on site this week, where six-foot wooden fences have been erected for privacy and security.
A Palace source confirmed the scale of the work, stating, "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 added, "But one thing for sure is that it is a lot, lot smaller and less luxurious than Royal Lodge." It is anticipated that renovations will be completed around Easter time, at which point Andrew will move in permanently. Until then, he will reside in a temporary home nearby.
Separation from Sarah Ferguson After Decades
This move marks a profound personal shift, as it will see Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, living separately for the first time in almost two decades. Despite divorcing in 1996, Sarah has continued to live with Andrew at the Grade II-listed Royal Lodge since 2008.
Her future plans are now a subject of speculation. Reports suggest she is looking for a new property in the Windsor area to remain close to her established life. Both of her daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, have reportedly offered her accommodation. Beatrice has apparently given her mother the use of a converted annexe at her Cotswolds home, while Eugenie has set aside a suite in her seafront mansion in Portugal.
Reinvention and Reputational Challenges
Sarah Ferguson is known for her ability to weather scandals and reinvent herself. However, biographer Andrew Lownie, author of "Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York", suggests her strategy relies on playing the victim, a tactic he believes works better in the United States than in the UK.
Lownie commented, "Sarah Ferguson's reputation is pretty much at an all time low. She may well pop back because she has this gift for reinventing herself... She just plays the victim, and that plays well in the States." He was less optimistic about Andrew's prospects for a public revival, starkly stating, "I think [Andrew's] toast."
The relocation follows the King's decision to officially strip Andrew of his military titles and royal patronages and order him to leave Royal Lodge, a move directly linked to the Duke's association with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
