Right now, no one has been officially and publicly confirmed as the next resident of Royal Lodge, so any answer is still speculative.

What is happening with Royal Lodge?

Royal Lodge in Windsor is part of the Crown Estate and was the home of the late Queen Mother and then Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (formerly Prince Andrew) from the early 2000s. In late 2025 it was announced that he must give up his lease and leave the property, with his departure expected in early 2026.

Andrew’s move and timing

Reports indicate Andrew has agreed to surrender his tenancy and is expected to vacate Royal Lodge around early 2026, with some outlets suggesting by around his 66th birthday in February. He is widely reported to be relocating to a smaller property, Marsh Farm, on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, where security and renovation work has been underway.

Who might live there next?

Several possibilities are being discussed in UK media and royal commentary, but none are confirmed:

  • Prince William and Princess Kate : Commentators once floated them as candidates, but they are reportedly focused on moving to or settling in another Windsor-area home (Forest Lodge), making Royal Lodge less likely in the near term.
  • Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie : They already have a long lease at Bagshot Park and are seen as unlikely to uproot for Royal Lodge.
  • Princess Anne : She is strongly attached to her own estate, Gatcombe Park, so a move is viewed as improbable.
  • Beatrice or Eugenie : As non–working royals with their own careers and existing homes, experts say it would be unusual for them to be granted such a large residence.

Other scenarios being discussed

Royal commentators also note that King Charles could decide not to give Royal Lodge to any individual royal as a primary home. Instead, the property could be used for offices, events, or public access, as has happened with other Crown Estate residences.

Bottom line

  • There is no official announcement yet about exactly who will live in Royal Lodge once Andrew leaves.
  • Media and forum discussions mainly revolve around senior working royals (like William and Kate) or the possibility that it becomes a more institutional or public-use property instead of a private family home.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.