The Duke of York is reportedly seeking to relocate to Frogmore Cottage as shocking new revelations emerge about his past guests at Royal Lodge
Prince Andrew has reportedly made demands to move into Frogmore Cottage, the former UK residence of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, as pressure mounts over his continued occupation of the lavish Royal Lodge in Windsor. This development comes amid explosive new revelations about the Duke of York’s controversial associations and the guests he once entertained at his current home.
The Royal Lodge Controversy Deepens
According to a bombshell report from the BBC, Prince Andrew once hosted three individuals who would later be convicted of serious sexual offences at Royal Lodge. Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Harvey Weinstein all stayed at the 30-room Windsor mansion following Princess Beatrice’s elaborate masked ball 18th birthday celebrations in 2006.
The timing of this gathering is particularly disturbing. The overnight stay occurred just two months after an arrest warrant had been issued in the United States for Jeffrey Epstein over allegations of sexually assaulting a minor. This revelation adds another troubling layer to the Duke of York’s already damaged reputation and his well-documented friendship with the disgraced financier.
While it was previously known that Epstein, Maxwell, and Weinstein had attended Princess Beatrice’s birthday celebration at Windsor Castle, the BBC’s investigation has now confirmed that the trio subsequently stayed at Royal Lodge itself. This detail had not been publicly disclosed until now, raising fresh questions about Prince Andrew’s judgment and the company he kept during this period.
From Royal Lodge to Frogmore: A Calculated Move?
Royal sources suggest that Prince Andrew’s desire to move to Frogmore Cottage may be driven by multiple factors. The property, which was extensively renovated at a cost of £2.4 million of taxpayer money before Harry and Meghan’s occupancy, represents a significant downgrade from the opulent Royal Lodge. However, it may offer the embattled Duke a strategic retreat from the mounting scrutiny surrounding his current residence.
Frogmore Cottage, located in the grounds of Windsor Home Park, was the UK base for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex before they stepped back from royal duties in 2020. The five-bedroom property was returned to the Crown Estate after Harry and Meghan relocated permanently to California, and the couple repaid the renovation costs. Since their departure, the cottage has remained largely unoccupied, though Princess Eugenie and her family have reportedly used it on occasion.
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The proposed move would see Prince Andrew leave behind Royal Lodge, the Grade II-listed property where he has resided since 2004 under a 75-year lease agreement with the Crown Estate. The mansion, which boasts 30 rooms and sits on 98 acres of Windsor Great Park, has become a symbol of the Duke’s refusal to accept a diminished role within the royal family.
The 2006 Birthday Celebration and Its Aftermath
Princess Beatrice’s 18th birthday party in July 2006 was a lavish affair that epitomized the extravagance often associated with royal celebrations. The masked ball, held at Windsor Castle, attracted approximately 400 guests, including members of high society, entertainment figures, and the Duke of York’s personal friends.
The £100,000 event featured elaborate Venetian-themed decorations, with guests instructed to wear masks and period costumes. The celebration was intended to mark Princess Beatrice’s coming of age, but the guest list would later become a source of intense scrutiny and embarrassment for the royal family.
Jeffrey Epstein, who at that time was already under criminal investigation in the United States, attended the party alongside Ghislaine Maxwell, who would later be convicted of sex trafficking charges related to her association with Epstein. Harvey Weinstein, then one of Hollywood’s most powerful producers, was also present. Weinstein would eventually be convicted of rape and sexual assault in 2020, receiving a 23-year prison sentence.
The revelation that all three subsequently stayed overnight at Royal Lodge paints a deeply troubling picture of Prince Andrew’s inner circle during this period. The Duke had met Epstein in 1999 through Maxwell, and the two men had developed what Andrew would later characterize as a friendship based on Epstein’s connections to influential people in business and politics.
The Epstein Connection: A Timeline of Scandal
Prince Andrew’s association with Jeffrey Epstein has been the subject of intense public scrutiny for over a decade. The relationship has fundamentally altered the Duke’s position within the royal family and led to his effective removal from public life.
In 2006, when Epstein stayed at Royal Lodge following Beatrice’s birthday party, he was already facing serious legal jeopardy. A 14-year-old girl had accused him of sexual assault in Palm Beach, Florida, leading to a police investigation and the issuance of an arrest warrant. Despite these circumstances, Prince Andrew continued to host Epstein and maintain their friendship.
Epstein would eventually plead guilty in 2008 to state charges of procuring a minor for prostitution, serving just 13 months in a county jail under a controversial plea deal. Even after this conviction, Prince Andrew continued his association with the financier, most notably visiting him in New York in December 2010—a visit that would later become the subject of widespread criticism.
The Duke’s connection to Epstein came under renewed scrutiny in 2019 when Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s accusers, alleged that she had been trafficked to Prince Andrew and forced to have sexual relations with him on three occasions when she was 17 years old. The Duke has consistently denied these allegations.
The Battle for Royal Lodge
King Charles III has reportedly been attempting to persuade his brother to vacate Royal Lodge for several years, viewing the Duke’s occupation of such a grand property as inappropriate given his withdrawal from royal duties. The monarch has allegedly offered Frogmore Cottage as an alternative, though Prince Andrew has thus far resisted the move.
The financial aspects of Royal Lodge have become increasingly contentious. Prince Andrew signed a 75-year lease on the property in 2003, agreeing to pay £250 per week in rent and to maintain the building at his own expense. The Crown Estate has estimated that maintaining the Grade II-listed building to the required standard costs approximately £400,000 annually.
Recent reports suggest that the Duke has struggled to meet these financial obligations, particularly following his £12 million settlement with Virginia Giuffre in 2022 and the cessation of his £249,000 annual Sovereign Grant allowance after he stepped back from royal duties.
King Charles has reportedly withdrawn the Duke’s £1 million-per-year personal allowance and ceased funding his private security, putting additional financial pressure on Prince Andrew to accept more modest accommodation. However, the Duke has remained defiant, insisting that he has the means to continue living at Royal Lodge.
The Wider Implications for the Monarchy
Prince Andrew’s situation represents one of the most challenging issues facing King Charles as he works to modernize and streamline the monarchy. The King has made clear his vision for a slimmed-down institution, with fewer working royals supported by public funds and a more focused approach to royal duties.
The Duke of York’s continued occupation of a 30-room mansion, combined with the latest revelations about his past associations, stands in stark contrast to this vision. Royal commentators have suggested that the King views his brother’s situation as damaging to the monarchy’s reputation and is determined to resolve it, even if it requires difficult family conversations.
The revelation that Epstein, Maxwell, and Weinstein stayed at Royal Lodge adds a new dimension to the controversy. While the 2006 stay occurred before any convictions, the fact that Epstein was already under criminal investigation raises questions about the level of due diligence conducted regarding guests at royal properties.
Royal historian Dr. Anna Whitelock commented on the situation: “This places the institution in an incredibly difficult position. The monarchy relies on public support and trust, and revelations like these undermine that foundation. The King must balance family loyalty with institutional responsibility.”
Public Opinion and the Path Forward
British public opinion has largely turned against Prince Andrew following the Epstein scandal and his widely criticized BBC Newsnight interview in 2019. Polls consistently show that a majority of Britons believe the Duke should no longer receive any public funding or royal privileges.
The latest revelations about Royal Lodge are likely to intensify calls for Prince Andrew to accept a more modest living situation. Political commentators have noted that at a time of economic hardship for many Britons, the optics of a disgraced royal refusing to downsize from a 30-room mansion are particularly poor.
Prince Andrew’s potential move to Frogmore Cottage, if it occurs, would represent a significant concession from the Duke. The property, while still substantial by most standards, would signal an acceptance of his reduced status within the royal family. However, sources close to the Duke suggest he views such a move as an admission of guilt and a humiliation he is reluctant to accept.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that Frogmore Cottage carries its own symbolic weight as the former home of Harry and Meghan. Some royal watchers have suggested that moving Prince Andrew into the property could be seen as provocative, given the ongoing tensions between the Sussexes and the royal family.
The Maxwell and Weinstein Connections
While Jeffrey Epstein’s association with Prince Andrew has been extensively documented, the presence of Ghislaine Maxwell and Harvey Weinstein at Royal Lodge in 2006 adds additional layers to the story.
Maxwell, the daughter of disgraced media mogul Robert Maxwell, introduced Prince Andrew to Epstein and was a regular presence in royal circles during the 2000s. She was photographed at various high-society events and maintained friendships with several members of the British aristocracy. In December 2021, Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking and conspiracy charges related to her role in Epstein’s abuse of young girls. She is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.
Harvey Weinstein’s presence at the 2006 gathering is notable given his subsequent conviction for rape and sexual assault. At the time of Princess Beatrice’s birthday party, Weinstein was at the height of his power in Hollywood, having co-founded Miramax and produced numerous Oscar-winning films. His attendance at royal events reflected his status as one of the entertainment industry’s most influential figures.
The fact that these three individuals—all of whom would later be convicted of serious sexual offences—were together at Royal Lodge raises troubling questions about the circles in which Prince Andrew moved and the judgment he exercised in his personal associations.
What Happens Next?
As of now, Prince Andrew remains at Royal Lodge, but the pressure for him to relocate continues to mount. Royal sources suggest that King Charles is determined to resolve the situation, though he is mindful of the need to handle the matter with discretion to avoid further damage to family relationships.
If Prince Andrew does move to Frogmore Cottage, it would mark a significant shift in his living circumstances and a tacit acknowledgment of his changed status within the royal family. The move would also free up Royal Lodge for potential use by working members of the royal family or even for partial public opening, generating revenue for the Crown Estate.
However, those close to the Duke suggest he remains resistant to the change, viewing his lease agreement as a legal contract that protects his right to remain at the property. This standoff between the monarch and his brother shows no signs of immediate resolution, though financial pressures may eventually force Prince Andrew’s hand.
The latest BBC revelations about the 2006 gathering at Royal Lodge have undoubtedly strengthened King Charles’s position in any negotiations with his brother. The reputational damage to the monarchy from these associations provides additional justification for insisting on the Duke’s relocation to more modest accommodation.
Conclusion
Prince Andrew’s reported demand to move to Frogmore Cottage comes at a moment of renewed scrutiny of his past associations and current living arrangements. The revelation that convicted sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Harvey Weinstein stayed at Royal Lodge in 2006 has added fresh controversy to an already troubled situation.
As King Charles works to modernize the monarchy and restore public confidence in the institution, resolving his brother’s living situation has become a priority. Whether Prince Andrew ultimately accepts a move to Frogmore Cottage or continues to resist remains to be seen, but the latest revelations have undoubtedly increased the pressure for change.
For a monarchy attempting to navigate the challenges of the 21st century, the Duke of York’s situation serves as a reminder of how past associations and decisions can continue to cast long shadows over the institution’s reputation and credibility.
Sources: BBC News, The Crown Estate, Royal Household records