Life has taken a sharp turn for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York, as he prepares to settle into his new home on the Sandringham estate.
The royal, who has been at the center of intense public scrutiny for years, recently made a first secret visit to Marsh Farm, where he is expected to live out his exile.
Moving Day Preparations Underway
Sources say Andrew will officially move into Marsh Farm by Easter, following a brief stay in a smaller temporary property on the estate.
Removal vans have already been spotted clearing his belongings from Royal Lodge, marking the end of his 22-year rent-free residency there.
A team of workers has been busy making the farmhouse habitable, installing a six-foot wooden privacy fence, security lights, and even Sky TV, while landscaping equipment, including a JCB, is being used to tidy the grounds.
A Quiet Life in Wolferton
Marsh Farm lies in the tiny village of Wolferton, just two miles from the King’s Sandringham House.
The village is secluded, with a church and a social club, but no pubs or shops.
Andrew reportedly scouted the property earlier this week, realizing that this is where he must build the next chapter of his life.
An insider told The Sun, “He is resigned to the fact that this is his future… he has to make the best of it.”
Staying Close, But Not Too Close
Although Andrew had hoped to move into Wood Farm, a five-bedroom cottage near the stables and pheasant grounds, concerns about being too close to the rest of the royal family reportedly blocked that plan.
The farm and surrounding outbuildings have been empty for some time, allowing the former prince a degree of privacy while he adjusts to his new surroundings.
Family Fallout
Andrew’s exile has deepened familial divides.
Princess Eugenie has cut off all contact following the Epstein scandal, refusing even to visit him over Christmas.
A source described it as total estrangement, comparing it to the level of disconnect seen between Brooklyn Beckham and his family.
Meanwhile, Princess Beatrice is taking a more measured approach, maintaining contact with her father while preserving her own standing in the Royal Family.
Controversial Royal Lodge Lease
Andrew’s move comes amid renewed scrutiny of his former residence at Royal Lodge.
Although he lived there rent-free for 22 years, officials never inspected the property, despite a lease that required upkeep and allowed for checks.
The lease, signed in 2003, included an £8 million refurbishment obligation, but Crown Estate officials never visited, raising questions about whether the deal favored Andrew at taxpayers’ expense.
The Fall From Royal Grace
Andrew’s exile follows years of controversy over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and allegations, which he denies, of sexual assault.
He stepped back from public duties in 2019 and settled a civil case with Virginia Giuffre, though he has consistently denied meeting her.
In 2022, Queen Elizabeth II removed his HRH style and military roles, and King Charles III later stripped him of both his title and dukedom, officially making him a commoner.
Newly revealed emails from the Epstein case further fueled scrutiny, including one from Balmoral asking Ghislaine Maxwell to “find new inappropriate friends.”
Life as a Commoner Begins
Now, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor faces a quieter, more isolated life at Marsh Farm, attempting to carve out a future far from the spotlight he once occupied.
With privacy fences in place, security heightened, and the farmhouse refurbished, the former royal is finally starting to settle into his new reality—one shaped by exile, scandal, and a dramatically altered place in the royal family.
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