Prince Andrew, the younger brother of King Charles, has left his long-time residence at Royal Lodge in Windsor following the latest U.S. Justice Department revelations regarding his links to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. A royal source confirmed the move, which took place under cover of darkness on Monday, with Andrew relocated to a cottage on the king’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
The 65-year-old former royal had hoped to remain at the 30-room Georgian mansion for longer, according to reports, but the recent release of files prompted the dramatic and “humiliating” departure, the Sun newspaper cited a friend as saying.
Mountbatten-Windsor, who has consistently denied wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, had been seen horse riding near Windsor in recent days. He may return occasionally to Windsor while the transition is completed, the royal source added.
The latest batch of U.S. files reportedly shows that Andrew maintained regular contact with Epstein for more than two years after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for child sex crimes, contradicting the former prince’s earlier claims that he severed ties after 2010.
Britain’s Prince Andrew kneels over a female in a combination of images released by the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., U.S., on January 30, 2026 as part of a new trove of documents from its investigations into the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. U.S. Justice Department/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. REDACTED AREAS FROM SOURCE. THIS PICTURE WAS PROCESSED BY REUTERS TO ENHANCE QUALITY. UNPROCESSED VERSIONS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED SEPARATELY.
Thames Valley Police confirmed they are reviewing a new allegation against Andrew. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called on the former royal to testify before a U.S. congressional committee in light of the revelations.
Andrew’s exit from Royal Lodge marks a further fall from public life. He stepped back from official duties in 2019 and settled a lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre, who alleged he sexually abused her as a teenager. Though he denied the claims, the case and subsequent releases of Epstein files have continued to cast a shadow over his reputation.
King Charles has stated his sympathy lies with victims of abuse, and Andrew’s removal from Windsor and loss of his prince title in October was seen as part of the monarch’s efforts to protect the monarchy’s integrity.
The ongoing fallout from the Epstein files has also triggered a British police investigation into former ambassador Peter Mandelson over alleged misconduct, highlighting the wide-reaching implications of the newly released documents.
