In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through royal circles, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have dramatically departed their long-time family home at Royal Lodge in Windsor. The Duke of York's daughters have made the difficult decision to abandon the 30-room mansion as their father's financial and personal crises deepen.
A Royal Residence in Crisis
The Grade II-listed Royal Lodge, which Prince Andrew shares with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, has become the epicentre of mounting royal tensions. Despite the couple's amicable living arrangement, the sprawling property has become increasingly unsustainable amid the Duke's fading royal prospects and financial constraints.
Sources close to the family reveal that the princesses' departure signals a significant shift in the York family dynamics. "The girls have their own lives and careers to focus on," an insider disclosed. "Remaining at Royal Lodge amidst the ongoing turmoil was becoming increasingly untenable."
Financial Pressures Mount
The magnificent 30-room mansion, set within Windsor Great Park's exclusive confines, requires staggering maintenance costs estimated at £400,000 annually. This financial burden has become increasingly difficult for the Duke to bear following his withdrawal from public duties after the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
King Charles has maintained a firm stance regarding royal finances, refusing to bail out his brother despite the property's historical significance. The monarch's determination to streamline the monarchy has left Prince Andrew facing difficult decisions about his future accommodation.
An Uncertain Royal Future
The York family's living arrangements have long fascinated royal watchers, with Sarah Ferguson continuing to reside at Royal Lodge alongside her ex-husband despite their 1996 divorce. Their unusual domestic setup has been described as "the most modern marriage in royal history," but current pressures threaten this arrangement.
As Princess Beatrice and Eugenie establish their own households and careers away from the royal spotlight, their departure from Royal Lodge marks a symbolic end to an era for the York family. The empty rooms now stand as silent witnesses to a royal branch in transition, caught between tradition and modern realities.
With Frogmore Cottage reportedly offered as alternative accommodation, the Duke of York faces a critical juncture that could reshape his position within the royal family forever.
