Prince Andrew has reportedly agreed to vacate his 30-room residence, Royal Lodge, in Windsor Great Park, under the condition that he and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, are each provided with separate homes on the Windsor estate.
Andrew has expressed a preference for Frogmore Cottage, the former residence of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, while Ferguson has requested Adelaide Cottage, currently occupied by the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The Royal Lodge, leased by Andrew in 2003 for a nominal £1 million with a “peppercorn rent” arrangement, has been a subject of public scrutiny due to its lavish nature and Andrew’s retreat from public duties following controversies linked to Jeffrey Epstein.
Although the lease extends until 2078, the mounting pressure from Buckingham Palace and King Charles has led Prince Andrew to reconsider his residence options.
Frogmore Cottage, a Grade II-listed property, was renovated at a cost of £2.4 million and was previously offered to Prince Andrew in 2023 after Harry and Meghan moved to the United States. However, Andrew declined the offer at that time. With recent developments, he appears more inclined to accept the move, provided his conditions are met
Here are nine things you may not yet know about the Windsor Estate home.
1. The cottage was originally named Double Garden Cottage
Frogmore Cottage is a Crown Estate property
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But it earned its current name thanks to the unusual number of frogs living in this low lying, marshy spot close to the River Thames. In 1875 Queen Victoria commented in her diaries on the “immense number of little frogs” she saw while breakfasting at the cottage. She described the spectacle as “quite disgusting … the paths had to be swept over and over again”.
2. It cost just £450 to build
The 10-bedroom cottage was built as a retreat for Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III, in 1801. At the time it was very fashionable for wealthy landed gentry to build large but rustic-style cottages on their estates, and the Queen and her daughters used it as a retreat from life at court.
Royal records suggest constructing the cottage cost £450 — or roughly £52,991.04 in today’s money.
3. But it cost £2.4 million to renovate
The cottage was previously given as a wedding gift to Harry and Meghan
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Harry and Meghan were given a lease on the cottage as a wedding gift from the Queen; an apartment had originally been earmarked for them at Kensington Palace but the reported souring of their relationship with Prince William and the Princess of Wales caused a change of plan.
Renovating the cottage for the couple cost £2.4 million of taxpayer’s money. The Sussexes, who later repaid the cash, lived there from April 2019 until their move to the US at the end of March 2020. They have since used it for short visits to the UK, most recently for the Queen’s funeral. This means that living at the cottage has effectively cost them around £63,000 per night.
4. Sound-proofing from the Heathrow flight path cost £50,000
The project included £50,000 for soundproofing and triple glazed windows, to block the noise of the 28-or-so Heathrow planes that pass within a mile of the house every hour.
5. Private yet close to Windsor
Frogmore House is on the Windsor Estate
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Its location gives residents privacy while being only a short distance from Windsor Castle, making it ideal for royals seeking a quieter residence near the main royal hub.
6. It has had a Soho House makeover
The cottage underwent a significant transformation under the guidance of interior designer Vicky Charles, renowned for her work with Soho House. Her approach was deeply influenced by the aesthetic of Soho Farmhouse, the Cotswolds retreat known for its rustic yet refined interiors. This style is characterised by reclaimed wood, plush textiles, and a harmonious mix of vintage and contemporary elements.
7. Prince Andrew was offered Frogmore Cottage as an alternative residence in 2023
In March 2023, reports indicated that Prince Andrew was offered Frogmore Cottage as an alternative residence to his current home, the Royal Lodge, following the King’s decision to cut off his annual allowance. Despite this offer, Andrew declined to move, citing the property’s size as insufficient for his needs.
8. The cottage has been lived in by everyone from servants to Russian royals
The Grade II-listed cottage provided a home for a varied roll call of royals and royal servants. Queen Victoria’s Indian attendant Abdul Karim lived there at the turn of the last century (their relationship was explored in the Stephen Frears film Victoria & Abdul). A few years later, surviving relatives of Tsar Nicholas II moved in after escaping to the UK following the Russian Revolution. It was later divided into five flats, used by Windsor estate workers.
9. Queen Victoria is buried on the same grounds
The cottage, owned by the Crown Estate, is set within the 33-acre Frogmore estate, half a mile’s walk from Windsor Castle. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert are buried in a mausoleum on the estate.