Royal Lodge interior: Prince Andrew’s 30-room mansion
After another week of scandal for the beleaguered royal family, Prince Andrew has been given the go-ahead for Prince Andrew II. There have been renewed calls for him to give up his grade-listed 30-bedroom mansion, Royal Lodge.
It has been revealed that Andrew has not paid rent to the Royal Lodge for more than two decades, amid growing calls for Andrew to be removed from public life altogether due to ongoing accusations about his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
On Friday, October 17, it was announced that he would no longer be known as the Duke of York, while his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who still lives with Andrew at Royal Lodge, lost her title of duchess.
According to the lease published and sent to him by the crown estate IndependentAndrew paid at least £7.5 million for renovations in 2005, as well as £1 million for rent. Since moving in 2003, he has paid only “a peppercorn (if requested)” in rent a year.
We take a closer look at the massive estate that the duke has called home for years.
Where is the Royal Lodge?
Royal Lodge is located approximately 3 miles south of Windsor Castle in the Windsor Estate.
It is part of the Crown Estate and was previously the Queen Mother’s residence at Windsor from 1952 until her death in 2002.
It was built in the mid-1600s and has housed various staff and members of the royal family over the years. Before it became known as the Royal Lodge, it had many names, including the Lower Lodge and the Grand Lodge.
How big is the Royal Lodge?
The land surrounding the Royal Lodge spans 98 acres. The property itself has 30 rooms, including seven bedrooms spread over two upper floors.
There is also a large guest room called the “formal room” and a lounge. The original conservatory has been preserved.
Also on the grounds of the Royal Lodge is a small cottage called Y Bwthyn Bach, which was gifted to Princess Elizabeth during her childhood by the people of Wales in 1932.
Other smaller properties on the site include a Gardener’s Cottage, Chapel Lodge, six Lodge Cottages and police security accommodation.
Who lived there before?
Before Andrew’s family resided in the Royal Lodge, it was occupied by King George VI and the Queen Mother while they were still the Duke and Duchess of York.
Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret spent a lot of time at the Royal Lodge, which was used by the family as a countryside retreat.
mid 18’sThis In the 19th century, military topographer and artist Thomas Sandby lived in the house as assistant ranger of the Great Park and named the property the Assistant Ranger’s House.
It later became the home of park enforcement officer Joseph Frost, who became general manager of the plantations after Sandby’s death.
George, Prince of Wales, who later became King George IV, used the lodge as temporary accommodation in 1812.
In 1830, King Henry IV. By William’s order, almost all of it was demolished and rebuilt, except for the conservatory. By 1840 it was used as accommodation for various officials of the royal family.
How much did Prince Andrew spend on this?
Andrew leased the Royal Lodge from the Crown Estate for a one-off fee of £1 million in 2003 and spent around £7.5 million renovating the property in 2005.
Andrew and his family have a 75-year lease on the property, allowing them to reside there until 2078.
Andrew and Sarah’s younger daughter, Princess Eugenie, held her wedding reception at the Royal Lodge after her wedding to Jack Brooksbank at Windsor Castle in 2018.
