‘I stayed at Andrew’s new home and couldn’t believe what I saw’ | Royal | News

Disgraced royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, has not been spotted outside Wood Farm, located on the Royal Family’s Sandringham estate, since his unexpected arrest on February 19.

Wood Farm Cottage was a favourite of Andrew’s late father Prince Philip, who resided there following his retirement from public duties in 2017. However, for the former Duke of York, it serves merely as a temporary residence whilst nearby Marsh Farm undergoes refurbishment.

According to Robert Hardman of the Daily Mail, Andrew is far less fond of the charming cottage than his father was and has “done nothing but complain since he got there.”

However, speaking exclusively to Reach PLC, ex-royal butler Grant Harrold stated that Wood Farm is “the kind of place many of us would dream of living in.”

The five-bedroom property in Wolferton, situated on the Sandringham Estate, is approximately two miles from the main Sandringham House.

The home underwent significant renovations, including a brand new kitchen, prior to Prince Philip moving in. But Grant suggests it’s a far cry from the grandeur Andrew will have been accustomed to.

Grant said: “Wood Farm is a very cute farm house, and the kind of place many of us would dream of living in, but it’s no Royal Lodge, not by any means.”

He adds: “It had a sitting room and dining room, plus a separate kitchen and a utility room. Prince Philip did a bit of modification with the late Queen because they used it when they went to Sandringham. They modernised it and it’s beautiful. It’s nicely done. It’s just not what you’d expect at [Buckingham] Palace.

“It’s got a few guest rooms, so it’s small and humble. It’s very different in scale. I remember being quite surprised at the garden, it’s quite plain. It’s not a house that’s ever had a full-time occupant before. I wouldn’t class this as a royal home, but I think that’s why most of the royals liked it so much – it felt a lot more ‘normal’.”

He recalls the cottage also welcomed younger members of the Royal Family, including Prince William and Prince Harry, prior to their dramatic rift in 2018.

Grant says “I went there with Prince William and Harry. Prince Philip used to let them go and have the weekends with their friends, and Kate [Middleton] used to join them.

“It was fun. Kate used to take on the role of ‘Lady of the House’ during the visits. She was in charge of organising the meals, organising the guests, organising which rooms people were in. The late Queen and Prince Philip used to go up there a lot, but it’s very remote. It was Prince Philip’s little escape and he used it very much towards the end of his life.”

The cottage serves merely as an interim arrangement for Andrew, with expectations he’ll relocate to the more substantial Marsh Farm in due course. Whilst Marsh Farm would represent a desirable residence for most people, Robert Jobson, author of The Windsor Legacy: A Royal Dynasty of Secrets, Scandal and Survival, maintains it requires extensive refurbishment.

He told Vanity Fair: “Not much is known about it. It’s quite boggy, a bit of a shell. It’s not finished yet.”

It is believed Andrew will move in, possibly by early April, once it has been renovated.

The Sandringham estate overall was purchased as a private rural sanctuary for the future Edward VII when he held the title of Albert, Prince of Wales in 1862, subsequently passing through successive generations of the Royal Family.

The principal residence is most recognised as the location where the royals customarily congregate for Christmas. The adjacent Anmer Hall functions as Prince William and his wife Catherine’s countryside residence throughout the school summer break.

Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office on the day of his 66th birthday last Thursday. He has been released under investigation and continues to deny any wrongdoing with regards his association with Jeffrey Epstein.