Prince Andrew reportedly welcomed Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Harvey Weinstein at Royal Lodge after his daughter’s 18th birthday party in 2006, as per a recent report by the BBC. This stay occurred just two months following an arrest warrant for Epstein in the US related to a minor’s sexual assault.
The trio, Epstein, Maxwell, and Weinstein, who were later convicted of sexual offenses, were previously known to have attended an event at Windsor Castle but the revelation that they stayed at Royal Lodge was undisclosed until now.
Buckingham Palace and representatives of Prince Andrew have been approached for comments by the Mirror regarding this development. Recent reports suggest that Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, his ex-wife, have agreed to vacate the Royal Lodge and move to separate residences.
Allegedly, discussions are underway between the King’s representatives and Prince Charles about Andrew voluntarily leaving the Royal Lodge due to controversies surrounding the minimal rent he pays for the 30-room mansion that has been his home for over two decades.
Sources claim that Andrew has expressed interest in relocating to Frogmore Cottage, the former residence of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, while Sarah might move to Adelaide Cottage after its vacancy by the Prince and Princess of Wales next month. Frogmore Cottage was originally offered to Andrew by Charles in January 2023 after Harry and Meghan’s departure, but Andrew declined the offer.
During a visit to Lichfield Cathedral, King Charles faced a heckler questioning his knowledge of Andrew’s association with Epstein and urging for parliamentary debates on the royal family. The incident led to contrasting reactions from the crowd, with some supporting the King and others rebuking the heckler.
In an attempt to address ongoing controversies, Prince Andrew relinquished his dukedom and other titles amid allegations of sexual abuse by Virginia Giuffre. However, criticism has intensified over his long-term occupancy of the Royal Lodge without paying a standard rent since 2003.