Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson shared a close bond until the Epstein scandal shattered their family life, residing together at Royal Lodge, a £30 million property in the heart of Windsor Great Park in Berkshire, until they were forced to evacuate the property after being stripped of their royal titles.
Andrew and Sarah, both 66, moved into the royal residence in 2004 when his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, granted the disgraced royal the lease to the property the year prior, under the expectation that renovations would be undertaken to "repair, renew, uphold, clean and keep in repair and where necessary rebuild" the home.
© ShutterstockRoyal Lodge, a 19th-century Grade-II listed building, sits on 90 acres of land and has more than 30 rooms, including seven bedrooms and a saloon. But while Andrew and Sarah resided there, we rarely got a glimpse inside the home. One room we never got to see was their family living room.
Palatial living room at Royal Lodge
An painting depicting life at Royal Lodge offers an insight into what life might have been like for Andrew.
King George VI, who ruled from 1936 to 1952, and the royal family were portrayed having tea at Royal Lodge in an oil on canvas painted in 1950 by Sir James Gunn.
The green walls with intricate wooden pannelling remain to this day, with an ornate marble fireplace taking centre stage. A glass chandelier hangs from the ceiling while antique paintings are affixed to the walls.
© Alamy Stock PhotoOne photo from inside the private royal residency shows how palatial the lounge rooms are at Royal Lodge.
Though it's likely that Andrew and Sarah, who are parents to Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, had updated the interiors and décor during their tenure at the property, it's likely that the traditional elements, including its regal style, have remained to ensure the home holds onto its authenticity.
Royal Lodge's history
Windsor was one of Her Late Majesty's favourite residences, second only to Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
Also on the grounds is a chapel which is dear to the family. Services at the church have been held there in recent times, while Prince Andrew's grandparents King George VI and the Queen Mother regularly worshipped at the chapel while they lived at Royal Lodge during their time as the Duke and Duchess of York.
© GettyMost notably in modern times, the Duke's eldest daughter Princess Beatrice married Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi there in 2020 in a private ceremony due to social restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
A highlight of the space is the late Queen Elizabeth II's life-sized playhouse that still stands on the estate.
In 1932, when the Queen was six years old, the people of Wales gifted her an incredible life-sized playhouse complete with running water, electricity, a fully functioning kitchen and bathroom, and a living room and bedroom.
"It's the most glamorous Wendy house ever, but it's really beautiful and what you're seeing now is after a year's renovation process," explained Princess Beatrice previously in the documentary The Diamond Queen.
© Alamy"It's been completely rethatched, new curtains, new wiring, a bit of a spruce up really! All the little china and glass was created especially for the house."
