Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the brother of King Charles, has vacated Royal Lodge in Windsor and is now living at a cottage on Sandringham, the king's Norfolk estate, a royal source confirmed on Wednesday. The relocation followed fresh disclosures about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
According to reporting cited in media accounts, the former prince, age 65, had intended to remain at Royal Lodge for a longer period. The move was carried out on Monday "under the cover of darkness," with Andrew driven to Sandringham. A royal source said he was resident at the cottage but added that he might return to Windsor occasionally during a transitionary phase that is still being completed.
The reporting quoted a friend as saying that the release of a new batch of Epstein-related files made it clear to him that it was time to leave. "Leaving was so humiliating for him that he chose to do it under the cover of darkness," the friend said.
King Charles removed Andrew's titles in October. The king said at the time that his sympathy was with the victims of abuse, and further indicated that Andrew would be moved following revelations about the former prince's ongoing relationship with Epstein.
Newly published files tied to Epstein, released by the U.S. Justice Department last Friday, included emails suggesting that Andrew maintained regular contact with Epstein for more than two years after Epstein was convicted of child sex crimes in 2008. Andrew has denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein and has stated that he did not maintain ties with the financier after the 2008 conviction, apart from a visit to New York in 2010 to formally end their relationship.
The relocation to Sandringham is presented by royal sources as part of a transitional arrangement. While the cottage is now his primary residence, officials indicated the possibility of occasional returns to Windsor as the transition concludes in the coming weeks.
Contextual note: Public statements and the sequence of events reported here reflect information provided by royal sources, media reporting citing acquaintances, and the U.S. Justice Department files as described in the recent disclosures. Where reporting attributes comments to a named outlet or to a friend, those attributions are preserved in this account.