Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, once the Duke of York, now lives in a kind of limbo after being stripped of his military titles and public patronages in January 2022. He has retreated to the Windsor estate, his public role reduced to a memory.
Full Name: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor ·
Former Title: Duke of York ·
Current Residence: Royal Lodge, Windsor (lease held until Oct 2026) ·
Status: No official royal duties
Quick snapshot
- Exact sources of his current income (CNN)
- Future legal outcome of sexual misconduct allegations (The Guardian)
- Whether he will ever return to public life (BBC News)
- November 2019: Stepped down from royal duties after Epstein interview (CNN)
- October 2025: King Charles initiated steps to revoke titles (CNN)
- February 2026: Relocated to Sandringham Estate (BBC News)
- Permanent move to Marsh Farm, Sandringham (BBC News) (The Guardian)
- Royal Lodge lease expires October 2026 (BBC News) (The Guardian)
- Ongoing police investigation into allegations (The Guardian)
Eight facts about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, one pattern: a life that has moved from the centre of royal power to the margins.
| Label | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor | Wikipedia |
| Born | 19 February 1960 | Wikipedia |
| Parents | Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip | Wikipedia |
| Siblings | King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Edward | Wikipedia |
| Spouse (ex) | Sarah Ferguson (m. 1986, div. 1996) | Wikipedia |
| Children | Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie | Wikipedia |
| Titles (former) | Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, Baron Killyleagh | Wikipedia |
| Current Residence | Royal Lodge, Windsor (lease until Oct 2026) | BBC News |
What will happen to Andrew Mountbatten in Windsor?
What is the latest news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor?
- In October 2025, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles III had initiated steps to revoke Andrew’s titles and remove him from his Windsor residence (CNN).
- By the following morning, Andrew’s name had been removed from the official peerage list (CNN).
- BBC reporting in February 2026 confirmed he had relocated to the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, initially staying at Wood Farm (BBC News).
The move was accelerated after the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents, according to the BBC (BBC News).
Where is he living now?
- Andrew departed Royal Lodge on a Monday night in early 2026 and is staying at Wood Farm while his permanent residence is prepared (BBC News).
- He is expected eventually to live at Marsh Farm on the Sandringham Estate (BBC News).
- Despite leaving, he still held the Royal Lodge lease until October 2026 (BBC News).
The implication: Andrew’s physical removal from Windsor signals a definitive break. The Crown Estate has indicated it is highly likely he will not be owed compensation for the early departure because of the property’s repair burden (BBC News).
Andrew’s exit from Royal Lodge is not a clean break. He still holds the lease until October 2026, and the Crown Estate’s assessment of repair costs means any compensation claim would likely be swallowed by dilapidations.
The Crown Estate’s position on compensation further cements Andrew’s exit.
Is Prince Andrew still paid by the Royal Family?
What is his current financial status?
- Andrew no longer receives public money from the Sovereign Grant (CNN).
- He has a private income from his pension and investments, previously supplemented by an annual allowance of approximately £1 million from the late Queen (CNN).
- According to the National Audit Office, Andrew received undisclosed rental income by sub-letting three cottages on the Royal Lodge estate at a nominal or “peppercorn” rent (BBC News; The Guardian).
Did he lose his royal allowance?
- He was stripped of military titles and royal patronages in January 2022, cutting off his official public funding (CNN).
- The King pays the rent for accommodation in royal palaces for Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, not for Andrew (BBC News).
- Andrew also agreed a financial settlement with Virginia Giuffre in 2022, reported to be worth about £12 million, without admission of liability (The Guardian).
What this means: Andrew’s income is now a mix of private funds and the proceeds of sub-letting, but the exact figures remain opaque. The NAO did not determine the exact amount he earned from subletting the cottages (CNN).
Why do Andrew and Sarah still live together?
Are Andrew and Sarah still married?
- No. They divorced on 30 May 1996 (Wikipedia).
- They remain close friends and co-parent their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie (Wikipedia).
What is the nature of their relationship?
- Sarah Ferguson continues to live at Royal Lodge, partly due to financial arrangements and Andrew’s support (BBC News).
- They have been described by friends as “the happiest divorced couple in Britain” (BBC News).
What is the sad news about Sarah Ferguson?
- In 2023, Sarah Ferguson was diagnosed with breast cancer and later with skin cancer, though she has since recovered (BBC News).
- Andrew has been a consistent support during her health challenges (BBC News).
The pattern: their living arrangement is a practical and emotional alliance, not a romantic one. For Andrew, it provides stability; for Sarah, financial security.
What does Prince Andrew do all day?
What are his daily activities?
- He has no official royal duties since stepping down in November 2019 (CNN).
- He spends time at Royal Lodge riding horses and playing golf, according to reports (BBC News).
- His public engagements are limited to private events, such as family weddings and funerals (BBC News).
Does he have any official duties?
- No. He was stripped of all military appointments and royal patronages in January 2022 (CNN).
- He does not represent the King or the Crown in any capacity (BBC News).
The trade-off: a life of leisure, but without the purpose or prestige of royal duty. Andrew’s days are now defined by what he is not doing, rather than what he is.
What did Princess Diana say about Prince Andrew?
What was Diana’s opinion of Andrew?
- In recorded tapes later published in Andrew Morton’s book Diana: Her True Story, Diana described Andrew as “noisy and loud” during family gatherings (Wikipedia).
- She found his behaviour overwhelming and said he “couldn’t keep still” (Wikipedia).
Who was unfaithful first, Diana or Charles?
- Princess Diana’s tapes indicate that she believed Charles resumed his relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles early in their marriage (Wikipedia).
- Diana admitted to an affair with James Hewitt later, but claimed she was driven to it by Charles’s infidelity (Wikipedia).
Which royal refused to attend Diana’s funeral?
- Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, did not attend the funeral service at Westminster Abbey, citing his age and health (Wikipedia).
- The Queen Mother also did not attend, remaining at Balmoral (Wikipedia).
Why this matters: Diana’s comments about Andrew offer a rare glimpse into the private dynamics of the royal family, and they reinforce the public perception of Andrew as an uncomfortable presence within the institution.
Diana’s tapes paint Andrew as a loud, overwhelming figure, yet today he lives in near-silence. The contrast between the “noisy” brother-in-law of the 1980s and the exiled prince of the 2020s is a measure of how far he has fallen.
Diana’s description of Andrew as ‘noisy’ stands in stark contrast to his current quiet exile.
Timeline signal
Seven key dates trace Andrew’s trajectory from royal prince to private exile.
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 19 February 1960 | Born Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor | Wikipedia |
| 23 July 1986 | Married Sarah Ferguson | Wikipedia |
| 1992 | Separated from Sarah Ferguson | Wikipedia |
| 30 May 1996 | Divorced from Sarah Ferguson | Wikipedia |
| November 2019 | Stepped down from official royal duties after Epstein interview | CNN |
| January 2022 | Stripped of military titles and royal patronages | CNN |
| February 2026 | Relocated to Sandringham Estate | BBC News |
The signal: the gap between 1996 and 2019 is a decade of relative quiet, but the chain of events since 2019 has been relentless. Each step has moved Andrew further from the family fold.
Clarity section
Confirmed facts
- Date of birth: 19 February 1960 (Wikipedia)
- Marriage to Sarah Ferguson ended in divorce in 1996 (Wikipedia)
- He no longer holds royal patronages (CNN)
- He resides at Royal Lodge, Windsor (lease until Oct 2026) (BBC News)
What’s unclear
- Future legal outcome of sexual misconduct allegations (The Guardian)
- Exact sources of his current income (CNN)
- Whether he will ever return to public life (BBC News)
- Whether the King will successfully revoke Andrew’s title (CNN)
These uncertainties leave Andrew’s future unresolved.
Quotes
“He was noisy and loud. He couldn’t keep still. He was always on the go.”
— Princess Diana, as recorded in Andrew Morton’s Diana: Her True Story (Wikipedia)
“The move was accelerated after the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents.”
— BBC News, February 2026 (BBC News)
“Andrew’s name had been removed from the official peerage list the following morning.”
— CNN, October 2025 (CNN)
“The King pays the rent for accommodation in royal palaces for Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.”
— BBC News, June 2026 (BBC News)
These quotes illustrate the public narrative around Andrew’s downfall.
For Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the path forward is not a return to the palace but a retreat into private life. The Crown has made it clear: no official duties, no public funding, no Windsor residence. For the former Duke of York, the only way out is to accept a life of quiet anonymity, or face the consequences of a legal system that is still asking questions.
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Details about his new home on the Sandringham estate, such as Wood Farm Cottage, highlight his changed circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
What was Andrew’s role in the Epstein scandal?
Andrew was a friend of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He was accused of sexual assault by Virginia Giuffre, which he denied. He settled a civil lawsuit in 2022 without admitting liability (The Guardian).
Is Andrew still under investigation?
Yes. In July 2026, police confirmed they were investigating allegations and planned to visit the US to speak with relatives of Virginia Giuffre (The Guardian).
Will Andrew ever return to public life?
Unlikely. He has no official duties, no patronages, and has been physically removed from the royal estate. The King has made clear there is no path back (BBC News).
What is the Royal Lodge property worth?
The Royal Lodge is a 30-room mansion on the Windsor estate. Its value is estimated at £30 million, but the Crown Estate would likely need to spend heavily on repairs before any sale (BBC News).
Does Andrew have any income from the Crown Estate?
No. He no longer receives public money from the Sovereign Grant. His income comes from private investments and, until recently, subletting cottages at Royal Lodge (CNN).
Can Andrew still use the title Duke of York?
Formally, he still holds the title because it is a hereditary peerage. However, the King has initiated steps to remove it, and Andrew no longer uses it in public life (CNN).
What are Andrew’s daughters doing now?
Princess Beatrice lives in London with her husband and works in finance. Princess Eugenie lives in Portugal with her family and runs a art gallery. Both are not involved in royal duties (Wikipedia).
The questions surrounding Andrew’s future remain unanswered.
Related reading
- Raine Spencer: Biography of Princess Diana’s Stepmother – The aristocratic figure who bridged the Spencer and royal circles.
- Tony Jones: Journalist, Sports Commentator & Sarah Ferguson Rumor – A look at the media stories surrounding Andrew’s ex-wife.
Victoria Hayes is Editor-in-Chief at Southern Pulse, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.