Prince Andrew moves to Sandringham as Marsh Farm plan draws staff resistance
Prince Andrew—Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor—has left Royal Lodge in Windsor and relocated to the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, shifting a long-running royal headache from one set of staff and neighbors to another. The move, which took place early this week, is framed as temporary: he is now staying at Wood Farm while renovations continue at Marsh Farm, his intended longer-term home.
The change of address is already generating friction inside the estate’s workforce, where some employees have signaled they do not want to be assigned to him. With his next move expected by early April 2026, the issue is no longer whether he relocates—but how the household around him functions once he does.
Prince Andrew’s late-night move to Sandringham
Andrew departed Royal Lodge after years of controversy over his continued residence there, relocating from Berkshire to Norfolk and settling into Wood Farm, a secluded cottage on the Sandringham estate. The departure was portrayed as swift and discreet, coming shortly after he was seen in Windsor earlier in the week.
Sandringham is a working royal estate with multiple residences and staff systems that support them. The arrival of a high-profile and polarizing family member introduces a different security and staffing profile than typical tenants—and it comes at a time when scrutiny around Andrew’s past associations has been intensifying again in public conversation.
Wood Farm vs. Marsh Farm: what’s different
Wood Farm is generally described as a private, tucked-away cottage on the estate—comfortable, but a clear step down in scale from Royal Lodge. It is now serving as a stopgap home while Marsh Farm is made ready.
Marsh Farm is expected to become Andrew’s main residence on the estate once renovations are completed. Work around the property has been visible for weeks, including perimeter changes that suggest a blend of practical renovation and security adjustments. The current expectation is a move into Marsh Farm by the start of April 2026 (ET), assuming the project stays on schedule.
The staffing problem inside the estate
The most immediate complication is human, not architectural. Estate employees have reportedly been informed they can decline assignments involving Andrew, and early indications suggest a significant share of staff do not want to work for him. That has two near-term consequences:
First, it can disrupt day-to-day operations—everything from household routines to event logistics—because the estate’s staffing model depends on people rotating across roles and properties. Second, it raises a reputational issue for the broader operation: a visible reluctance to staff a royal household becomes its own story, independent of the underlying reasons.
The practical question is whether Andrew can recruit a smaller, loyal team willing to relocate with him—or whether he will face a stripped-down setup that looks and feels like a deliberate downgrade.
What sparked the timing now
The move comes amid renewed attention to the wider Jeffrey Epstein-related record, which has driven fresh questions about Andrew’s past contacts and prior statements. While Andrew has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, the political and media environment around the issue remains volatile, and the optics of his housing situation have become a proxy fight over how much institutional support he retains.
This week’s coverage included live on-air reporting and “itv live” segments that focused on the speed of the departure, the Sandringham destination, and the preparations at Marsh Farm—signaling how closely the story is being followed in the UK right now.
What happens next at Sandringham
Two timelines are now running in parallel.
1) The housing timeline: Wood Farm is the temporary base; Marsh Farm is the target. If renovations finish on time, early April 2026 (ET) becomes the moment the arrangement hardens into a new normal.
2) The staffing timeline: resistance is easier to manage for a short stay. It is harder to manage for a permanent household. The longer Andrew remains on the estate, the more the day-to-day logistics—and any visible staff discontent—become part of the public narrative.
The key indicator to watch is whether the estate’s staffing plan stabilizes quietly or becomes a recurring operational issue. If it becomes the latter, pressure increases for an even more limited household footprint at Marsh Farm, regardless of the property’s size or renovation scope.
Sources consulted: Associated Press, ABC News, ITV News, BBC News
