Sarah Ferguson and her former spouse Prince Andrew continue to share a residence despite their home’s deteriorating condition. The Duke and Duchess of York seemed to have everything when they married in 1986, with the world watching.
However, less than ten years later, their marriage abruptly ended. A mere decade after saying “I do,” the couple made the unprecedented decision to divorce following a series of scandals.
Despite this, they remain on good terms and even cohabit at the Royal Lodge on the Windsor Castle estate, a property Andrew, 64, inherited from his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, after her passing in 2002. Even though Sarah, 65, and Andrew are divorced, they’ve been dubbed the happiest divorced couple and are frequently seen together at various royal events, most recently Christmas at Sandringham.
In 2018, the best-selling author disclosed that she and Andrew have separate rooms at opposite ends of the grand residence but still make time for afternoon tea together. She stated: “We sit round the table and have afternoon tea together. It’s a very important part of our lives,” reports the Mirror.
Yet while they maintain a strong friendship, their living situation at Royal Lodge may change if King Charles has his way, amid reports he’s pushing for Prince Andrew to relocate to Frogmore Cottage following the revocation of his allowance and private security. The Royal Lodge features 30 bedrooms, and has recently been plagued with issues such as crumbling exterior rendering and black mold, casting doubt on the upkeep of the estate that has belonged to the royals for generations.
Cracked paintwork has been noticed peeling off a stairwell leading to a door inside the property, located near the King and Queen’s residence of Windsor Castle. In addition, the large gates on the driveway to the property have also been affected.
New images reveal armed officers from The Met’s Royal protection branch using a plastic barrier in place of the broken gate. Despite the home falling into disrepair, Andrew is believed to be insistent that he will not relocate and has sufficient funds to stay at Royal Lodge.
Andrew signed a 75-year lease on the property in 2003, just one year before he moved in. According to an updated version of the book Charles III: New King, New Court. The Inside Story, author Robert Hardman cites a source who explains how Andrew claims he will finance his home despite his allowance being cut.
The source tells the author: “He claims to have found other sources of income related to his contacts in international trade, sufficient to cover all his costs which would be a welcome outcome for all parties if that turns out to be the case. But as to whether this funding can be relied upon in the long term is another matter.”
Royal Lodge has a rich history dating back to the mid-17th Century, but it wasn’t until the 1930s that it became home to its first royal residents. In 1931, George VI and the Queen Mother, then known as the Duke and Duchess of York, were gifted the property as a weekend retreat.
The Queen Mother made several additions to the estate, including a mini cottage named Y Bwthyn Bach, which was given to the late Queen – then Princess Elizabeth – in 1932. Even after the King’s death in 1952, the Queen Mother continued to use Royal Lodge as a grace and favour home until her death in March 2002, with the late Queen by her side.