Despite what we’ve seen from Eugenie’s wedding reception and Sarah Ferguson’s
brief glimpses into her abode, is The Royal Lodge’s glamor just a facade?
Though the Royal Lodge sounds more like a ski resort by name, the property is way bigger than
your typical lodge. According to Woman & Home, the property is considered a Grade II-listed
building located in Windsor Great Park. It's situated just several miles from Windsor Castle,
which is the world's largest and oldest castle that's still inhabited today.
"Windsor Castle, the longest continually inhabited castle in the world."
The inside of the Georgian property consists of 30 rooms and a swimming pool all set on
21 acres of impressive gardens. Among those 30 rooms are a large drawing room, a saloon,
a conservatory, and seven bedrooms all situated on the top floors.
The grounds surrounding the main property are home to eight additional properties separate
from the main estate: the Chapel Lodge, a Gardener's Cottage, and six Lodge Cottages,
as well as accommodations for palace security. A tiny cottage on the property, Y Bwthyn Bach, which
means "the little cottage" in Welsh, was first given to then-Princess Elizabeth in 1932.
Before the Royal Lodge became Prince Andrew's official royal residence,
he invested approximately £7.5 million in renovations. And Andrew has had no
plans to vacate his longtime home, as he signed a 75-year lease on the property.
'No.'
'No to all of it?'
'All of it.'
The renovations were made years ago and it's said that the Royal
Lodge is now in major need of repair. A source told The Sun:
"Royal Lodge is in a terrible state and it is falling down. Barely any
work has gone on for two decades and people are shocked when they visit."
The source described the needed repairs as extensive water damage
and that it's in need of a new roof, adding:
"Not only does Andrew not have the finances to bring the home up to scratch,
it would be uninhabitable when the work is being carried out."
In recent years, the Royal Lodge has been home to Prince Andrew and his former wife, Sarah Ferguson.
During their marriage, they lived at Sunninghill Park in Ascot before selling the property to a
billionaire who demolished the original home and built a more modern manor house on the property.
In 2004, the Royal Lodge officially became the prince's full-time residence along with that
of his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. Just four years later,
their mother moved into the property, and it became their family home.
Exes typically don't live together in the same house, but the arrangement works well for the
former couple, who have long been great friends as they navigated raising their two daughters
together. The lodge is so large that it allows them the space to come and go as they please.
"If you've been married to somebody,
I just see it as illogical not to be a friend at the end of the day."
In 2021, Ferguson shed more light on her and Andrew's living situation, telling The Times:
"I travel a lot and I've always been able to make wherever I am home. If I
am staying in a hotel I have the same family photographs and scented candles
around me. When I'm in the UK I'm lucky enough to stay at Royal Lodge."
She neglected to label the property as her permanent residence. Fergie explained:
"I wouldn't call it my home, as that would be presumptuous."
The Royal Lodge has become the family home for Prince Andrew, Sarah Ferguson,
and their daughters. So it's no surprise that Princess Eugenie selected the property as the
venue for the evening reception of her October 2018 wedding to Jack Brooksbank.
The day-long celebration began with the couple's wedding ceremony which
took place at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. The festivities
continued with a carriage ride and a lunch reception at the Waterloo Chamber,
the Grand Reception Room, and St. George's Hall inside Windsor Castle.
The party kept going into the evening with a private dinner held at the Royal Lodge.
The British royal family website published the official photos from the wedding. Eugenie is
seen smiling at her new husband upon entering the Royal Lodge in one of many candid photos.
Social media has given royals the opportunity to share glimpses of their everyday life with
the public. Sarah Ferguson, the former duchess of York, launched a YouTube series where she and
her friends read from their favorite children's books. The series is filmed at the Royal Lodge,
allowing her followers to see bits and bobs of her famous historic home.
Many episodes of the series take place inside the Royal Lodge conservatory where Ferguson
can be seen sitting in the light-filled room, which features lots of plants and windows to
the property's beautiful grounds. The room also includes a beverage cabinet stocked with plenty
of drinks — including wine, port, and tonic water — as well as glasses and paper straws.
In a photo of Ferguson which she shared on Twitter,
light carpet flooring and green walls can be seen in the inviting room of the lodge.
Thanks to Sarah Ferguson's gracious relationship with the public,
she's offered several glimpses into her personal spaces. She shared a video to
social media shortly following her 61st birthday thanking her followers for their
well wishes, according to Hello! Magazine. She states in the post:
"Hi everybody, I just wanted to say a very quick thank you so much for all my
wonderful birthday messages. 61, still redheaded."
In the video, Ferguson is seated at her dressing vanity within her bedroom. Decorating the wooden
vanity is a white and gold flower vase and several metal trinket dishes. The
vanity is positioned near her closets which have cream-colored doors and gold handles.