The former prince Andrew was forced out of Windsor mansion Royal Lodge and into Marsh Farm on the Sandringham estate, which is a much smaller five-bedroom home owned by the King
Disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor now has a light blue front door – which illustrates how far the disgraced ex-prince’s stature has fallen.
That’s because the entrance to his home is the same as every single other tenant on King Charles’ vast Sandringham estate. The former prince moved into Marsh Farm earlier this month after being forced out of his 30-room Windsor mansion, Royal Lodge, due to his association with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
And pictures show that his five-bedroom new home shares the same colour of front door as the Sandringham staff and others who live on the Norfolk estate in properties owned by Mountbatten-Windsor’s older brother, the King. It is believed that Charles owns more than 300 properties in 12 villages across his 20,000-acre estate – ranging from family homes for staff to holiday rentals.
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All the properties are distinguished by their front doors, which are all painted and must remain light blue colour, in a tradition said to have been established by the Queen Mother.
The Sandringham property portfolio is estimated to be worth £75million and the King is paying for the ex-Duke of York’s living costs and has met the refurbishment costs for Marsh Farm himself due to his brother’s wrecked finances.
One local said: “Andrew now has a front door matching the Sandringham staff, which shows just how far he has fallen from grace. He is now just like every other tenant.
“The colour of the front door indicates the house is owned by the King, so it’s a constant reminder that his brother is paying for him to live there. As a tenant, you are not allowed to change the front door, so he is stuck with it.”
Sandringham tenants are subject to several unusual rules as part of their tenancy agreements. For example, there is reportedly restrictions on the erection of fences and a strict ‘no cats policy’ that is believed to be due to protecting young pheasants, which are bred for Sandringham shoots.
Meanwhile, those living in homes rented out by the King have to undergo a selection process, with priority given to those who work locally. Properties are not rented out on a first come, first served basis, but instead on if the potential tenant is best suited to the home.
Mountbatten-Windsor’s home Marsh Farm is two miles from the King’s main Sandringham House and is cut off from the rest of Norfolk by Dersingham Bog.
It is a former working farm that stood dilapidated and empty for years before workers began the task of renovating for Mountbatten-Windsor earlier this year.
During the renovations, new six-foot high security fences were erected around the property for security with Sky TV engineers seen installing television and broadband services.
Mountbatten-Windsor was named numerous times in the Epstein files and last October, the King stripped him of his prince and Duke of York titles.
On his 66th birthday in February, he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office. He remains under investigation by the force probing claims he passed on confidential information to Epstein while working as a trade envoy for the British government.
Ten UK forces are assessing a range of allegations regarding his relationship with the late billionaire financier, while US investigators also want him to provide evidence of his relationship with the sex offender.
