The former Prince Andrew has left his long-term residence on crown-owned land near Windsor Castle earlier than anticipated, following renewed scrutiny sparked by the latest release of U.S. investigation documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.
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| Prince Andrew, King Charles and Prince William at the state funeral for the Duchess of Kent in September. Photograph: James Veysey/Shutterstock |
The 65-year-old brother of King Charles III, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, vacated Royal Lodge in Windsor on Monday and has relocated to the king’s Sandringham estate in eastern England, according to Britain’s Press Association. Reports from British media say he is temporarily staying at Wood Farm Cottage while renovation work is carried out on his permanent residence on the estate.
Although Mountbatten-Windsor’s move to Sandringham was announced in October—when King Charles stripped him of his royal titles amid ongoing revelations about his association with Epstein—he had been expected to remain at Royal Lodge, where he lived for more than two decades, until the spring.
His earlier-than-planned departure coincided with an announcement from Thames Valley Police that they are examining claims that Epstein flew another woman to Britain to have sex with Mountbatten-Windsor. A lawyer representing the alleged victim told the BBC the incident occurred in 2010 at Royal Lodge.
These claims are separate from allegations made by Virginia Giuffre, who said she was trafficked to Britain to have sex with Andrew in 2001 when she was 17. Giuffre died by suicide last year.
Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein and has not publicly commented on the latest trafficking allegation. His name appears multiple times in the 3 million pages of documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice on Friday.
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| Prince Andrew and Prince Charles on June 5, 2012.Credit : Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty |
One email dated March 23, 2011, from the lawyer of an exotic dancer, alleges that Epstein and Mountbatten-Windsor invited her to participate in a threesome at Epstein’s Florida residence.
According to her legal team, the two men had “prevailed upon her to engage in various sex acts” during an alleged encounter in early 2006, after initially hiring her to perform as a dancer. Her lawyer said she received only $2,000 rather than the $10,000 she was promised.
The attorney proposed resolving the matter privately for $250,000. “My client has not pursued her claims against your client until this time because she is not proud of the circumstances of that night,” the lawyer wrote. “She was working as an exotic dancer, but she was treated like a prostitute.”
Other exchanges between Epstein and a man believed to be Mountbatten-Windsor show Epstein offering to set up a date with a 26-year-old Russian woman. The man, who signs his messages simply as “A,” later suggests meeting Epstein for dinner in London, either at a restaurant or at Buckingham Palace.
The documents do not establish wrongdoing by many of the individuals named. The presence of well-known figures often reflects Epstein’s broad network of contacts.
Mountbatten-Windsor’s continued residence at Royal Lodge has long been a source of tension between him and the king. After King Charles ascended the throne in 2022, he attempted to have his brother move into a smaller property on the Windsor Castle estate. Mountbatten-Windsor resisted, pointing to a lease that runs until 2078.
Pressure for him to leave intensified in October, as lawmakers and members of the public questioned the favorable lease terms for the 30-room house and its surrounding grounds, which are overseen by the Crown Estate.
The Crown Estate manages properties across the UK that are formally owned by the monarchy but administered for the benefit of taxpayers. The Sandringham Estate in Norfolk is owned privately by the king.