‘He didn’t want to go’

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has now settled into Marsh Farm on the Sandringham estate, marking the end of a delayed move that had quietly stirred tensions within the Royal Family.

The relocation, completed on April 6, 2026, follows weeks of hesitation after leaving Wood Farm, where he had been staying temporarily since February.

His arrival at Marsh Farm comes under a lingering cloud. The former royal remains under investigation after being arrested on February 19 on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Authorities allege he shared confidential commercial information with Jeffrey Epstein during his time as the UK’s trade envoy in 2010. After spending 11 hours in custody, he was released without charge but remains under investigation, with officials suggesting the case could broaden and take up to a year to resolve.

© Martin Pope

Despite the legal uncertainty, extensive preparations had been underway for his new residence. Marsh Farm, a five-bedroom property left empty for five years, reportedly underwent major renovations.

The interiors were upgraded with luxury carpets from Linney Cooper, a company known for supplying the Royal Household, along with modern amenities including high-speed internet and satellite television.

© Bryn Colton

Security was also significantly reinforced due to the property’s proximity to a public road, with the addition of a near two-meter wooden perimeter fence, CCTV systems, security lighting, and even an airspace restriction zone.

The grounds were also adapted to suit his lifestyle. Stables were refurbished for his horses, and a mobile home was installed on-site, reportedly intended for storage or use as a private retreat. Staffing at the property is expected to remain minimal, limited to a chef and a valet.

© Mark Cuthbert

The move follows growing concern within his family about his wellbeing. Over the Easter period, Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, visited him at Wood Farm for what has been described by a source to the Daily Mail as a “brotherly welfare check” amid fears about his “fragile state of mind.”

Their visit came after they were forced to alter their usual holiday arrangements, staying elsewhere on the estate because Andrew had not yet vacated the farmhouse.

© Martin Pope

Princess Anne has also remained in contact, reportedly checking in on her brother and even suggesting he could relocate to her Gatcombe Park estate. With few visitors and increasing isolation, Andrew’s situation has prompted quiet support from his siblings, even as his public role has definitively come to an end.

Sources suggest the delay in his move reflected reluctance rather than logistics. “He hasn’t gone quietly [from Royal Lodge] put it that way. He didn’t want to go and doesn’t want to be at Marsh Farm, but he also doesn’t have much choice.”

Another insider underscored the family dynamic at play. As revealed by a source to The Telegraph, “This is a sibling issue now. Who else does he have left?” Edward has publicly avoided commenting directly on his brother’s situation beyond emphasizing the broader context of the Epstein scandal.

© YUI MOK

Speaking earlier this year he said, “I think it’s all really important always to remember the victims and who are the victims in all this? A lot of victims in this.”

In private, however, concern appears to outweigh distance. Those close to the family describe a delicate balance between offering support and acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations.