Prince Andrew is under renewed pressure over his housing after months of scrutiny of his links to Jeffrey Epstein and the decision to relinquish his titles earlier this month, as reported by BBC News. He denies any wrongdoing. Attention has turned to whether he should vacate Royal Lodge, a 30-room mansion in Windsor Great Park, and what a realistic next address might be given security needs, costs and public sentiment.

The financial detail matters here. BBC News has seen a lease document confirming the prince pays only a token “peppercorn” rent for Royal Lodge, offset by large up‑front payments including renovations. In practical terms, those payments-around £8m-function like a lease premium, buying out most future rent obligations on a 75‑year term. For readers, think of it as prepaying occupancy costs to reduce annual outgoings, albeit with ongoing maintenance on a large estate still substantial.

Buckingham Palace has not commented on whether Prince Andrew will move. However, BBC News reports that two Windsor options-Frogmore Cottage and Adelaide Cottage-were proposed months ago to both Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. The Sun reported on Monday that the prince is prepared to leave Royal Lodge if he can take Frogmore Cottage, with Adelaide Cottage going to Sarah Ferguson. That claim has not been confirmed by the Palace.

Frogmore Cottage would tick several boxes. The Grade II‑listed home sits in a quiet corner of the Frogmore estate, close to Windsor Castle and within the established security perimeter. It has served as a private retreat since the 18th century and, most recently, as the UK home of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex before they were asked to vacate in 2023. Staying in Windsor would keep Prince Andrew near Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and their young families.

Adelaide Cottage is another realistic candidate. The Prince and Princess of Wales have lived there since August 2022 but, after a difficult period that included the Princess’s cancer diagnosis and treatment, BBC News reports the family is moving to Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park. That would free Adelaide Cottage for reassignment. By royal standards it is modest-four bedrooms-and would represent a clear downsizing from Royal Lodge while remaining close to the King.

Beyond Windsor, Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk has been floated. Privately owned by the monarch, it was long favoured by the late Duke of Edinburgh for its seclusion and simplicity. The wider Sandringham estate spans roughly 20,000 acres with 600 acres of gardens, offering privacy and established security without the running costs of a grander house being fully opened up year‑round.

Scotland also offers options. Balmoral is a private estate of the monarch, and the Castle of Mey in Caithness-revived by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in the 1950s-is run as a visitor attraction in summer. Off‑season accommodation could be possible, though the seasonal visitor business and the distance from Windsor would complicate routine family access and logistics.

There are international angles too. The Sun has reported that Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has offered Prince Andrew the use of a palace in Abu Dhabi, said to include six bedrooms, a gym and a pool, citing the prince’s previous role as the UK’s trade envoy. Such a move would raise questions about optics and security coordination, and would place him far from immediate family ties in Windsor. Separately, his connections with Bahrain are well known.

The politics of the arrangement are not trivial. The Liberal Democrats want the prince to appear before MPs to explain the lease terms on Royal Lodge, according to BBC News. Last week, the government declined to allocate Commons time to debate his titles or his housing. With household budgets still squeezed for many, the optics of a nominal rent on a significant Crown Estate property were always going to draw fire.

For finance-minded readers, the core question is cost versus control. A prepaid lease reduces annual cash costs but concentrates risk in a single asset: if the occupant is asked to move, the sunk outlay cannot be easily recovered. Royal Lodge also carries heavy maintenance. Moving to a smaller, secure property such as Adelaide or Frogmore would lower running costs, while remaining within Windsor’s established security operation.

Reputational risk also feeds into property decisions. The fallout from the Epstein saga has intensified again after new allegations reported in Virginia Giuffre’s memoir, as cited by BBC News; Prince Andrew has consistently denied the claims. Any future residence has to account for that scrutiny: clear terms, clear funding, and a setting that does not invite further controversy.

Where this lands depends on three things: security planning, legal clarity on the lease, and a deal the Palace can defend publicly. For now, BBC News says options are on the table and the Palace is silent. If a Windsor swap emerges-Frogmore for the prince and Adelaide for Sarah Ferguson-it would keep the family close, cut costs and draw a line under months of debate without adding new questions about who pays for what.