As Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor prepares to downsize from his 30-room home, Royal Lodge, sources are claiming that his imminent move to the Sandringham estate isn't necessarily going as planned. The former Duke of York was evicted from Royal Lodge in October after King Charles stripped his brother of his titles. Now, Andrew is set to move into a small property in Norfolk that's in need of significant renovations.
"He really didn't want Marsh Farm," a source told the Daily Mail. "Andrew won't have lived anywhere that small since he left his apartment at Buckingham Palace—and then he had free roam of the building and grounds when he needed space." Per the outlet, it's understood that the former Duke of York would "prefer" Prince Philip's former residence, Wood Farm—a larger property on the Sandringham estate—but that idea was taken off the table as "inappropriate."
Since Marsh Farm isn't large enough to provide for live-in staff, the outlet reported that Andrew won't be able to bring any of his Royal Lodge staff with him. Instead, King Charles "will provide a cleaner, a groundsman and a cook from Sandringham to look after Andrew's needs on an ad hoc basis."
However, this arrangement "hasn't gone down well" with Andrew, the insider claimed, adding, "nor has the lack of suitable garaging for Andrew's cars, although that may be dealt with during the refurbishment."
As the Sun reported last week, workers have been spotted at the property installing security cameras and fencing in preparation for the ex-prince's move. Moving vans have also been photographed coming and going at Royal Lodge, with reports indicating that Andrew and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson may be out by next weekend.
"He is trying to block it [the move] out," a source told the Daily Mail. "His personal rooms have to be kept clear of any sign of packing cases. He is likely to move into temporary furnished accommodation provided by the King at Windsor or Sandringham as a stop-gap to spare him dealing with it all."
Instead of going through his belongings himself, the insider claimed that "a trusted member of staff is to be left behind to supervise the packing at the Lodge."
