Ex-Prince Andrew May Choose Exile Abroad Over Moving to Sandringham
Former Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson at the funeral of the Duchess of Kent in London on Sept. 16, 2025.
Credit:
Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty
Key Developments
- Former Prince Andrew may soon relocate to the Middle East, according to a royal biographer.
- Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been ordered to vacate Royal Lodge following the revocation of his royal titles by King Charles.
- Royal author Robert Jobson explores the aftermath of Andrew’s scandals in his upcoming book *Windsor Legacy*, set to be released on January 6.
In the wake of his exile from the royal family, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is considering his next move as he prepares to leave Royal Lodge, a 30-room mansion he has occupied for over twenty years.
The former Prince Andrew was directed to abandon his lease on the Windsor property earlier this year after King Charles revoked his remaining royal titles amid ongoing scrutiny of his connections to Jeffrey Epstein. Although he is set to receive a private residence on the Sandringham estate, insiders indicate that his future remains uncertain.
According to royal biographer Robert Jobson, Andrew’s exile could extend beyond the United Kingdom following a recent meeting between King Charles and the ruler of Bahrain.
“The King saw the King of Bahrain the other day. One never knows — it could be a place where Andrew gets the recognition of being the second son of Queen Elizabeth, rather than this,” Jobson said. His new book, *Windsor Legacy*, is scheduled for release on January 6.
Jobson noted that relocating to the Middle East would not be without precedence. Spain’s former King Juan Carlos I has resided in Abu Dhabi since 2020, following his withdrawal from public life due to financial scandals.
“Other disgraced individuals have relocated to the Middle East. Andrew did a lot of business in Bahrain, and he’s still relatively young,” Jobson added.
Inquiries have been made to a representative for Andrew for further comment.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor pictured driving in Windsor in fall 2025.
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Andrew Lownie, another biographer, believes that the Middle East remains a feasible option for Andrew. “He doesn’t like the sound of being on the Sandringham estate; I think he wants to go somewhere where he can just get away from everything,” he stated.
While Marsh Farm, a modest property within the Sandringham estate, has been frequently speculated as Andrew’s next residence, Jobson calls into question whether it will serve as a long-term solution. “I just can’t see him being on an isolated farm in Sandringham,” he remarked.
Pegusus
Meanwhile, Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, is pursuing her own path. Reports suggest she is searching for an independent living situation, likely away from Andrew, and is focused on revitalizing her commercial ventures and writing career.
“She’s a fighter,” a source close to Ferguson noted.
Marsh Farm on the Sandringham estate where Andrew is set to have as his British home, according to speculation.
Lucia Graphus/Alamy Live News
Despite their separation in 1996, Andrew and Ferguson remain close. Ferguson moved into Royal Lodge shortly after Andrew took over the lease in 2003. Jobson remarks that Ferguson’s post-marriage years have been marked by financial difficulties after stepping away from royal life.
“I have a degree of sympathy for her,” Jobson stated. “When she divorced Andrew, her financial settlement was not substantial, unlike Princess Diana’s. She was introduced to a luxurious lifestyle and has faced considerable debt ever since. She never received the compensation she deserved.”
This holiday season, Andrew and Ferguson spent Christmas together at Royal Lodge, while their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, chose to join King Charles and the broader royal family at Sandringham.
Andrew with his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, left, at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in Sept. 2022.
Paul Grover/Shutterstock
Jobson noted that it was unsurprising Beatrice and Eugenie opted to celebrate Christmas at Sandringham, accompanying King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Kate Middleton.
“It’s easy to view this as a snub to their parents, but they would argue: ‘I’m a royal princess, I’m next in line to the throne, I’ve been invited to the King’s Christmas celebrations, and missing that isn’t an option,'” Jobson explained.
“It’s not merely an invitation – it’s a command, really,” he added.
Despite the public split on Christmas Day, the family has remained in close contact amid the ongoing scandal. As doting grandparents, both Ferguson and Andrew attended the christening of Beatrice’s daughter, Athena, at St. James’s Palace on December 12, maintaining a low profile during the event.
“They need to focus on their own families, as is often the case as people mature. It seems they would support their mother, while their father will be left to navigate his own issues,” a source noted.
Princess Eugenie (center) and Princess Beatrice (back) join the royal family on Dec. 25, 2025 in Sandringham.
Jordan Peck/Getty
Behind the scenes, Andrew and Ferguson believed they could resist moves to compel their exit from Royal Lodge, citing Andrew’s longstanding lease on the property. Nonetheless, ongoing scrutiny regarding Andrew’s associations with Jeffrey Epstein led to a protracted standoff with palace officials, ultimately termed the “siege of Royal Lodge” in royal circles.
This deadlock came to an end in late October 2025 when King Charles mandated that Andrew relinquish the lease on Royal Lodge.
“[Andrew and Sarah] were counting on the royal family permitting them to remain at Royal Lodge and put up a significant fight to do so,” Jobson observed.
