A House Divided: Final Weeks at Royal Lodge
The final chapter of Andrew Windsor's residence at the 30-room Royal Lodge is unfolding under a cloud of tension and isolation, according to insider reports. The disgraced former prince, stripped of his royal titles by his brother, King Charles, is said to be spending his last days at the Windsor estate ‘ranting and muttering to himself’ as he paces the vast, empty rooms.
Separate Lives in a Mansion
The source revealed that Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, now lead largely separate lives within the colossal property. They are reported to sleep at opposite ends of the mansion, coming together only during mealtimes to discuss their precarious futures. Since the King removed their titles, Andrew has become a reclusive figure, ‘padding about’ the home and rarely venturing out.
While Andrew withdraws, Sarah Ferguson has reportedly sought solace in a secret bar located on the estate, known as ‘The Doghouse’. There, she is often heard confiding in friends and staff, seeking advice on what to do next. A source told The Sun that she uses the space to escape her troubles and voices significant fears for her security once she is forced to leave the protective grounds of Royal Lodge.
Fear and Uncertainty for the Future
The pressure on the couple is immense. Sarah Ferguson is described as ‘panicking about what comes next’ and is said to be in a poor state of mind. Her anxieties extend beyond herself to her daughters with Andrew, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, whom she fears could be caught in the crossfire of the ongoing scandals.
She is reportedly particularly worried for Andrew himself, knowing he was at the centre of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Andrew's association with the convicted paedophile financier has been a source of untold pressure for the Royal Family, culminating in his effective banishment. He has always denied any wrongdoing.
Andrew faces further humiliation with his name being removed from streets, monuments, and institutions worldwide. For instance, Maidenhead’s Prince Andrew Road and Prince Andrew Close, named after his birth in 1960, are now subject to formal applications for renaming.
Despite the estrangement, the couple is united by one primary concern: their desire to shield their daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, from the fallout of their situation. An insider noted that this shared goal is the one thing that brings them together. They added that since losing his titles, Andrew has ‘lost a bit of his arrogance’.
Forced to vacate Royal Lodge, a home Andrew has occupied since 2004, his next destination is a property on the King’s Norfolk estate, paid for by the monarch. The future for Sarah Ferguson, however, remains unclear as they confront the consequences of their past.
