Prince Andrew of York will have to leave what was his home since 2004 to move to Frogmore Cottage by the decision of King Charles III.
On March 1, news broke that Charles III, 74, had asked his youngest son to vacate Frogmore Cottage, a decision apparently made 24 hours after Prince Harry’s memoirs came to light.
Now, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s only residence in the UK will be inhabited by Prince Andrew, 63, who in turn will vacate the stately home in which he has lived.
Where does Prince Andrew live
The Duke of York lives at Royal Lodge, a property in Windsor Great Park, located south of Windsor Castle. It was built in the mid-1600s and has been home to several members of the Royal Family, including Queen Elizabeth II.
Before becoming the residence of Prince Andrew, the Royal Lodge was the country home of the Queen Mother and King George VI. Elizabeth II’s mother lived there until her death in 2002.
The mansion is worth US$36 million, about €34 million, (£30 million), and is part of the King’s public estate.
Andrew has lived there since 2004 with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, 63. The two agreed to their separation in 1996, but have maintained a very good relationship so it has been no inconvenience to share housing.
When the Duke of York moved to Royal Lodge, he renovated some rooms of the property, the reform was valued at 9 million U.S. dollars. However, this impressive mansion has remained virtually unchanged since the 1930s.
The Royal Lodge has a royal chapel, a gardener’s cottage, six cottages, and accommodations for security personnel. It also retains the miniature cottage that Queen Elizabeth II received as a gift on her sixth birthday.
The mansion that Prince Andrew will have to leave has 30 rooms, including the seven bedrooms on the two upper floors of the main building, the formal drawing room, and a spacious hall in which its millennial architecture stands out. This house impresses with its decoration, high ceiling, and arched windows.
Undoubtedly, Royal Lodge is considered a historic property for the Windsors. It was the setting chosen by Princess Margaret to announce her engagement to Antony Armstrong-Jones. It was also the venue for the wedding of Eugenie York, 32, to Jack Brooksbank, 36.
Prince Andrew doesn’t want to move into Frogmore Cottage
Now, the move is imminent, the controversial duke will have to leave his mansion to move to Frogmore Cottage and according to reports in the British press, Andrew sees this change as a “downgrade”.
Frogmore Cottage despite having extensive gardens is a small house compared to Royal Lodge. Harry and Meghan’s former home in the UK has 5 bedrooms and recently underwent a renovation.