Prince Andrew has chosen to remain secluded at his Royal Lodge residence following recent allegations linking him to Jeffrey Epstein. The Duke of York, who announced his decision to relinquish his title, has isolated himself within the confines of his expansive Windsor estate amidst mounting pressure stemming from revelations in Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir. Despite vehemently denying the accusations, scrutiny has intensified over Andrew’s occupancy terms at Royal Lodge.
Residing in the 30-room mansion since 2003 at a nominal rent, Andrew initially paid £1 million for the lease and an additional £7.5 million for renovations. Concerns over the propriety of his rent-free arrangement have prompted calls for a parliamentary investigation, with the Prime Minister advocating for thorough oversight.
Since withdrawing from public life in 2019 following a contentious Newsnight interview, Andrew has rarely ventured outside his residence, spending his days engaged in activities such as gaming and television viewing. Reports suggest that he immerses himself in video games like Call of Duty and avidly follows golf coverage, demonstrating a penchant for plane spotting as well.
Despite his secluded lifestyle, Andrew occasionally ventures out for car rides or horseback excursions. Previously, he would visit Windsor Castle for tea with the late Queen, but his current existence appears isolated and monotonous. He shares Royal Lodge with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, alongside their pets and the Queen’s corgis, although Ferguson reportedly occupies a separate wing within the extensive property.
Legislation has been introduced to allow the King to strip Andrew of his dukedom formally, following his decision to cease using the Duke of York title. The proposed law empowers the monarch to revoke titles either independently, based on parliamentary recommendations, or at the title holder’s request.