As discussions intensify over whether Andrew and Fergie should vacate the Royal Lodge, it raises the equally challenging question of their next destination, should they indeed be forced out.

With limited financial resources, the couple would likely jump at the chance to secure another residence from the King’s property collection, assuming such an opportunity is still available.

Initially, the King proposed that his brother downsize to Frogmore Cottage, the former home of Harry and Meghan, conveniently located within the Windsor Castle security perimeter. However, Andrew turned down this offer.

The situation has since shifted dramatically, especially after revelations that Andrew has not paid rent on his lavish residence for over two decades—an amount reportedly around £260,000 per year. Meanwhile, Robert Jenrick has expressed that the British public is ‘sick’ of Andrew and desires his removal.

With Halloween approaching, the couple might soon face the unsettling reality of eviction, potentially leading to a new abode in Transylvania, amid the lingering repercussions of the Epstein scandal.

A remote and eerie castle cherished by the King near John O’Groats in Scotland could also serve as a fittingly distant location for the monarch and Prince William to send their disgraced relatives.

There is also a house on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk but it is rented out for £350-a-night as an Airbnb, and so would need to be cleared of holidaymaker bookings. 

Apartments in St James’s Palace and Clarence House in London may appeal to Fergie because they are close to the bright lights of Mayfair’s clubs, hotels and restaurants – although it’s doubtful if the couple would be welcome on the social scene.

Further afield is one of the King’s homes in Valea Zalanului, Transylvania – an area of Romania beloved by Charles, where the British monarch is revered. It has no TV but lots of horses so Andrew can go riding every day. 

King Charles withdrew his brother’s £1million annual royal allowance last year, and with only his naval pension to draw on, having to pay for security would prove a headache if he moved to a property not within the confines of a royal estate. 

Meanwhile, his ex-wife’s career as a children’s author appears to be over meaning the couple will likely be dependent on the Royal Family for the offer of a roof over their heads. 

A Kensington Palace apartment or a residence in Buckingham Palace are highly unlikely.

So unless the 65-year-old can generate some new major cash, here are the royal residences that could provide sanctuary for Andrew and Fergie – and crucially keep them out of public sight. 

Castle of Mey, Caithness

Should he be forced to move more further afield, the Castle of Mey near John O’Groats in Caithness certainly has the correct aura of ‘banishment’ about it. 

The late Queen Mother bought it in 1952, restored it and used the castle as her summer retreat, falling for its isolated charm after hearing it was abandoned.  

She made annual visits in summer and autumn until her death in 1996.

Among the properties on the estate are the Captain’s House and the luxurious Granary Lodge.

The Captain’s House is a detached holiday cottage that offers self-catering accommodation. Previously known as Seaview House, it sleeps six people in two double rooms and one twin.

Its conservatory overlooks the garden and offers panoramic views looking north over the Pentland Firth.

Meanwhile, the Granary Lodge Bed and Breakfast on the estate is located between the Castle and sea.

Opened in May 2019 by King Charles, it has 10 bedrooms, including two suites.

The latitude means visitors can sometimes see the Northern Lights and the sunsets are spectacular.

With views out across the Pentland Firth towards Orkney, Mey is the most northerly-inhabited castle on the British mainland.

The King is famously fond of the Castle of Mey, and tends to visit the property each August. 

Transylvania

Perhaps the least likely properties the Duke could relocate to are one of the estates owned by King Charles near Zalanpatak and Viscri in Transylvania, Romania. 

Charles bought the estate in Valea Zalanului, Szeklerland, in the 1990s and now rents it out as a nature retreat to those wanting to explore the Zalán Valley and the surrounding mountains.

The guest house is situated near to the village of Viscri. The 400-year-old cottages have been decorated with traditional antique Transylvanian furniture and textiles.

There are no televisions or radios in any of the rooms, just books. 

However, horse riding, a hobby of Prince Andrew’s, is one of the activities on offer, alongside trips to the nearby mineral pools.

Frogmore Cottage  

The Daily Mail revealed that the King had offered his younger brother Frogmore Cottage, a more modest property than Royal Lodge, but Andrew reportedly saw this as a ‘demotion’ too far.

Andrew downsizing to live at Frogmore Cottage would make a significant saving, with friends of the King saying he would continue to pay for mobile security, but would not have to provide static security for the building.

Those with knowledge of Frogmore Cottage – which used to house the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – said it is in good condition thanks to the work carried out by Harry and Meghan before their move to the US.

Prince Harry was asked to remove his remaining possessions from the property just weeks after he published his explosive memoir Spare.

However, speaking at the time, a Buckingham Palace spokesman gave no clue of how likely it is that Andrew would live there, saying: ‘I think at this point I wouldn’t speculate on who would be the future occupant of Frogmore Cottage.’

The property boasts a rich history – indeed, it was once the home of Queen Victoria’s loyal Indian manservant Abdul Karim.

And from 1925 until 1934, the home was a place of sanctuary for Grand Duchess Xenia, the sister of Tsar Nicholas II.

Harry and Meghan were given use of Frogmore Cottage by the late Queen Elizabeth in 2018 as their relationship with brother William and Kate started to fall apart and they were neighbours at Kensington Palace.

It had previously been converted into five separate accommodation units for estate staff but was knocked back into one large home with a private garden.

Whilst the huge £2.4million cost was initially covered by the taxpayer, Prince Harry and Meghan subsequently agreed to foot the bill themselves.

During their renovation in 2019, the property was modernised and now includes a sleek kitchen with a marble-topped breakfast bar, herringbone wooden flooring and ‘cosy’ rustic brick feature walls inspired by Meghan’s beloved Soho House. 

It’s likely that Prince Andrew has spent time at the property, given his daughter Eugenie lived there for a period of time after Harry and Meghan’s departure. 

She moved in with her husband Jack and their son August in November 2020, but has since vacated the property to live in Portugal. 

Wood Farm, Sandringham

Another contender for Andrew and Sarah’s future home could be Wood Farm, on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.

The unassuming cottage was the property Prince Philip chose to call home after retiring in from official public life in August 2017.

The red-brick, five-bedroom property with its spartan furnishings and cosy open fires has for years been a bolthole from stuffy palace formality.

Considered a ‘normal’ home, that might be more likely to house a low-key family than royalty, Wood Farm was once the home of the so-called Lost Prince – Prince John, the youngest son of George V and Queen Mary. 

The property’s location away from the capital would keep Prince Andrew further from the public eye, which is believed to be a wish of the King and his son.

And the Yorks have spent time in the modest residence, reportedly using it as a base for several Christmases.  

The Garden House, Sandringham

Another contender on the Norfolk estate could be the Garden House, once the home of the late Queen’s head gardener at Sandringham.

The public was given an insight into the property when it was advertised for rent and advertised on Airbnb.

Decorated with furniture and artwork owned by the Royal Family, it was described as a ‘charming hideaway, owned by HM The Queen, nestled within the heart of her much-loved Sandringham Estate country retreat and the closest estate property to Sandringham House itself.

‘Furnished eclectically from the Royal Collection, all the furniture and pictures were once housed in a royal residence.

‘As well as the formal walled garden with its wonderfully stocked beds and borders in which the property sits, there is a more informal garden where you can relax in and children and dogs are safe to run and play.’

While the property remains on the website, there are currently no dates showing as available, suggesting it has been taken off the rental market for now.

It previously cost £237 and £354 per night to rent. 

Charles’s farmhouse, Carmarthenshire

Charles and Camilla spend a couple of weeks a year at their secluded three-bedroom farmhouse on the Llwynywermod estate in Carmarthenshire.

As Prince of Wales, Charles said it was important to have a home there and spent 40 years finding the right one. 

He bought the £1.2million estate in 2007 with Camilla, including two cottages available to rent.

North Range and West Range, cost between £1,400 to £2,400 a week depending on the time of year.

‘Sitting within a courtyard range adjoining the Welsh royal residence of Llwynywermod, North Range is a charming barn conversion available for occasional holiday lets,’ explains the Llwynywermod website. 

‘North Range forms part of a courtyard attached to Llwynywermod Farmhouse and is beautifully furnished to suit the style of the property, with a mixture of period and contemporary furniture including many Welsh pieces and local fabrics.’ 

Ideal for walkers, the cottages are surrounded by 90-acres of land and a short distance from the Breacon Beacons National Park.

The upkeep would be significantly more affordable for Prince Andrew, although it’s doubtful he would want to relocate to rural Wales.  

Holiday cottages, the West Country

The Windsors have a portfolio of smaller cottages for hire, many dotted around the UK coast, including in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Several of these belong to the Duchy of Cornwall, a private estate caring for around 54,521 hectares of land in 23 counties, but mostly in the South West of England. Today this is owned by Prince William. 

In Cornwall, 28 properties are available for holiday rent, ranging from smaller one bed places, suitable for a couple, to larger properties, such as the sixteenth century Restormel Manor in Lostwithiel which is situated in unspoilt countryside at the head of the beautiful Fowey valley.

In 2010, before her marriage to Prince William, Kate Middleton and her family paid £3,000 to prospective father-in-law, then Prince Charles, for staying at Restormel over Christmas. 

The Middletons spent several days at the 500-year-old manor, which has a heated swimming pool, tennis courts and nine bedrooms.