Andrew Windsor’s expected relocation from Royal Lodge to King Charles’s Sandringham estate is taking far longer than planned, and people close to the situation say it isn’t a simple case of dragging his feet.
According to reports, the delay comes from a mix of practical challenges and what some see as a deliberate tactic. Royal author Robert Jobson told Hello! Magazine that Andrew has been “kicking his heels” as he works through the reality of downsizing. He said Andrew has made it clear to the King and to palace officials that he has no intention of moving quickly, even after receiving formal notice in October to give up his Royal Lodge lease.
Jobson explained that Andrew is unlikely to leave before February, meaning he will almost certainly spend Christmas at Royal Lodge while the King hosts other close family members at Sandringham.
The main issue, he said, is simply the scale of the move. Shifting more than twenty years of belongings from a 30-room home into a much smaller cottage takes time. People familiar with the process say the Sandringham property meant for Andrew is not fully ready, and the Palace has described the downsizing as complex.
Even so, Jobson added that understanding the practical difficulties does not translate to sympathy. Sources say Andrew is taking advantage of every technicality he can to slow the timeline. As one insider put it, delaying the move is also a strategy. There’s little incentive to hurry when the end result is a significant step down.
This comes as King Charles and Queen Camilla prepare to host their annual Christmas celebrations at Sandringham, with senior members of the family expected to attend, including the Wales and Princess Anne.
