Former Duke of York Moves from Royal Lodge to Sandringham

Prince Andrew, the former Duke of York, has moved out of Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park and relocated to accommodation on the Sandringham estate, according to reporting cited by the BBC. The change marks a significant shift in his living arrangements after years of scrutiny surrounding his role in public life and his use of a high-profile royal residence.

The move places Andrew, also known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, on the Norfolk estate that has long served as a private retreat for the Royal Family. While Sandringham is associated with family gatherings and private stays, the relocation underscores efforts to manage royal property use and public perceptions around residences tied to senior royals and former working members of the family.

What is known about the move

Royal Lodge, located in Windsor Great Park, has been Andrew’s home for years and is among the better-known residences associated with the monarchy’s wider household. The BBC report said he has now moved to Sandringham, with details indicating a change in day-to-day location rather than a short visit.

Specific arrangements around the Sandringham accommodation were not publicly detailed in the report, and Buckingham Palace has not typically provided granular information on private living situations. However, the relocation itself has been described as a move away from a major Windsor property to the more private setting of the Sandringham estate.

His current situation and public role

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor stepped back from public duties and no longer carries out official engagements as a working royal. His withdrawal from front-line royal work has been accompanied by limits on his public appearances, with his profile largely restricted to occasional family events and ceremonial moments where other senior royals are present.

The former duke’s circumstances have remained a subject of public interest because they intersect with questions about royal funding, security, and the use of royal property. His living arrangements have been closely watched amid broader efforts by the monarchy to refine its public-facing footprint and reduce points of controversy linked to non-working members of the family.

Royal Lodge, Sandringham, and the wider estate context

Royal Lodge sits within Windsor Great Park, an area connected to the monarch’s residences and to the Crown Estate’s broader holdings. Because Windsor is closely associated with official duties and state events, the choice of who lives in nearby or on-site properties can carry symbolic weight, even when those properties are used privately.

Sandringham, by contrast, is traditionally seen as a family estate used for private stays, including seasonal gatherings. A move to Sandringham can be interpreted as a relocation to a less publicly prominent setting. It also places Andrew within an estate environment where access and visibility are more tightly controlled than in parts of Windsor that are routinely in the public eye.

Implications for the Royal Family’s property management

The relocation comes against a backdrop of heightened attention to how royal residences are allocated and maintained. Over recent years, royal households have faced questions about costs and the appropriateness of providing high-value accommodation to individuals who no longer represent the monarchy in an official capacity.

While the BBC report focused on the change in residence, the move also highlights a continuing balancing act for the Royal Family: maintaining private family arrangements while addressing public expectations around accountability, transparency, and the use of historic properties associated with the institution.

Key locations referenced

The move centers on two long-established royal estates and their roles within the wider royal property landscape:

• Royal Lodge, within Windsor Great Park
• Sandringham, the Royal Family’s private estate in Norfolk

Both sites carry different public associations. Royal Lodge is tied to Windsor’s public and ceremonial identity, while Sandringham is commonly linked with private family life, particularly during periods when the Royal Family is not engaged in official duties in London.

What happens next

No forward-looking plans were set out in the report regarding whether Andrew Mountbatten Windsor will remain at Sandringham long term or whether the move is part of a broader reallocation of royal housing. The Royal Family generally does not comment in detail on private arrangements unless there is a direct public or operational implication.

For now, the key confirmed development is the relocation itself: Andrew has moved from Royal Lodge to Sandringham. The change is likely to be read within the continuing context of how the monarchy manages its non-working members and how royal properties are used as the institution seeks to maintain public confidence while keeping family matters largely private.

Disclaimer: This report is based on information from the BBC and other publicly available details at the time of writing. Palace officials did not provide additional comment on private living arrangements.