Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson are “set to live apart” for the first time in nearly two decades as the pair prepare to vacate Royal Lodge and pursue separate residences.
The disgraced Duke of York is in discussions about leaving his Grade II-listed mansion on the Windsor Estate, with revelations emerging last week that he had effectively avoided paying rent for 22 years despite signing a 75-year lease on the property.
The former couple have shared the sprawling royal residence for the past 18 years, maintaining an unusual living arrangement despite divorcing in 1996. Their impending separation marks a significant shift in their domestic situation and comes amid mounting pressure from King Charles to resolve the Royal Lodge matter.
Andrew previously rejected the King’s offer of Frogmore Cottage, the former home of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, but his position has reportedly changed as options narrow. Adelaide Cottage has also become available after Prince William and Princess Catherine decided to vacate the property.
King Charles Pushes for Resolution
King Charles has reportedly spent years attempting to remove Andrew and Ferguson from Royal Lodge, frustrated that the pair have occupied the valuable property without paying rent for over two decades despite the formal lease arrangement requiring substantial payments.
Neither Frogmore Cottage nor Adelaide Cottage would require renovations or additional security measures at taxpayer expense, as both properties sit within Windsor Castle’s existing security perimeter. This consideration has become increasingly important given the significant costs associated with protecting royal residences.
Discussions are reportedly ongoing regarding rental charges for Andrew and Ms Ferguson at their new residences, with palace officials keen to establish formal payment arrangements that avoid repeating the Royal Lodge situation.
It remains unclear what will happen to Royal Lodge following the pair’s departure, though insiders believe new tenants will occupy the property to generate income for much-needed renovations that have been deferred during Andrew’s occupancy.
£1 Million Initial Payment
Andrew entered into a 75-year lease for Royal Lodge in 2003, making an initial payment of £1 million for the privilege of occupying the historic residence. According to a National Audit Office report, he was additionally obligated to contribute £7.5 million towards extensive renovations completed in 2005.
However, subsequent rent payments appear not to have materialised as expected, creating the awkward situation where the King’s brother has effectively resided rent-free in one of the Crown Estate’s most prestigious properties for more than two decades.
A friend of the former duke acknowledged the changed circumstances: “He is realistic and knows the writing is on the wall and that his time at Royal Lodge is up.”
Relationship Under Strain
The switch to separate residences at Frogmore and Adelaide will see the duo part ways after living together since 2008 in what many considered an unconventional arrangement for a divorced couple.
The friend continued: “They have been under immense strain this year and need a break from one another. It’s a fresh start for both.”
The properties’ location just around the corner from one another will still allow the pair to maintain regular contact and preserve their close relationship despite no longer sharing a home.
Although Frogmore would have been too small for them to cohabit comfortably, sources suggested that each house independently offers sufficient space for their daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie to visit with their families.
Ferguson Deserves Own Residence
Some friends close to the Duchess of York feel she deserves a royal residence to herself after years of supporting Andrew through various scandals and controversies that have tarnished the royal family’s reputation.
However, Adelaide Cottage would not provide Ferguson with the expansive space she has grown accustomed to at Royal Lodge over nearly two decades of residence.
The Grade II-listed mansion boasts 40 hectares of grounds, equivalent to approximately 60 football pitches, offering extraordinary privacy and space that few other royal properties can match.
Accessed through a gated, manned entrance, the mansion features seven bedrooms, a drawing room, a conservatory, and a nearly 50-foot-long saloon perfect for entertaining guests in royal style.
Contrasting Properties
Frogmore Cottage and Adelaide Cottage offer dramatically different living arrangements compared to the grandeur of Royal Lodge, with Adelaide being described as a “modest” family home despite its royal credentials.
The downscaling represents a significant lifestyle adjustment for both Andrew and Ferguson, who have enjoyed the privilege of occupying one of the Windsor Estate’s finest properties throughout their unconventional post-divorce cohabitation.
Royal observers suggest the move reflects King Charles’s determination to streamline royal residences and ensure properties are occupied by working members of the royal family or generate appropriate income for the Crown Estate.
Andrew has faced increasing isolation from royal duties following his disastrous BBC interview about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and subsequent legal settlement with Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual assault.
The loss of Royal Lodge represents another blow to the Duke’s diminished status within the royal family, removing him from one of the most prestigious addresses associated with the monarchy.
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