Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is set to move from Royal Lodge and into a much smaller five-bedroom mansion on the Sandringham Estate, and it seems he has made his 'priority' clear
15:50, 16 Jan 2026Updated 15:55, 16 Jan 2026
Marsh Farm, the five-bedroom Norfolk property that is reportedly set to become Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's new home, represents a "heck of a step-down" from the expansive Royal Lodge, according to royal commentator Richard Kay.
However, the former prince is ensuring maximum comfort at his new address, with builders and tradesmen observed working diligently to prepare the converted farmhouse for its high-profile new occupant.
"Workmen were there putting in a satellite dish for him. We know he loves his TV," Richard told the Palace Confidential podcast, adding: "I think it all harks back to his military days. He spent hours watching planes descending and taking off from Heathrow Airport on some interactive system that he had at Royal Lodge, and I'm sure that will be replicated at Marsh Farm."
Large vehicles have been spotted transporting some of Mountbatten-Windsor's extensive collection of belongings to the estate, though insiders suggest that a significant portion of the "natural hoarder's" possessions will need to be placed into long-term storage.
A royal source told the Daily Mail: "A lorry has been and gone under the cover of darkness. Andrew is going to a shoebox-sized house, compared to Royal Lodge, so a lot of the things that were taken are going into a storage unit."
The source continued: "The clutter at Royal Lodge is turning what should be a straightforward move into a months-long, room-by-room excavation. It's all going to be painfully slow, especially with refurbishment work to complete at the other end. These aren't the kind of belongings you can sweep into a skip. Even if Andrew wanted to move tomorrow, he couldn't."
Nevertheless, speculation suggests the relocation could be finalised before his tenancy agreement ends. Whilst his lease on the sprawling 30-room Royal Lodge isn't due to expire until October, Royal correspondent Rebecca English revealed that her sources indicate his brother, King Charles, has insisted he must vacate the Windsor residence by Easter - during the first week of April.
Marsh Farm, which belongs to the King through the Sandringham Estate, has remained unoccupied for several years following the death of its previous tenant farmer, and is presently undergoing substantial refurbishment works ahead of Andrew's arrival, with completion anticipated around Easter 2026.
The renovation works, which are understood to be funded from the King's personal finances, encompass a brand new kitchen, enhanced perimeter fencing and a cutting-edge CCTV security system.
Sources at Buckingham Palace have declined to comment on the relocation, emphasising that Mountbatten-Windsor is now a "private citizen" and that Sandringham remains a "private estate."
Details have emerged, for instance, regarding the potential rent on the property. Questions were raised last year when it came to light that Mountbatten-Windsor's lease on Royal Lodge included what's known as a "peppercorn rent" - a clause requiring only a token payment (literally "one peppercorn, if demanded") to be made each year.
Mountbatten-Windsor paid £1 million upfront for the 75-year lease on the 30-room estate in 2003 and is also understood to have shouldered considerable renovation expenses. That arrangement attracted significant criticism given that taxpayer money is involved in managing the Crown Estate, prompting scrutiny from MPs examining the Royal family's various property arrangements.