The Colorful History of Royal Lodge

Prince Andrew’s home near Windsor Castle is in the headlines. Here are the basics about its origin as a getaway for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth and its place in history.

After living in Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park for two decades, 63-year-old Prince Andrew has let it be known that he intends to stay in his 30-room home despite pressure from King Charles III to relocate to a more modest residence. At the moment, Andrew seems to have the upper hand, since he personally signed a lease in 2003 with the Crown Estate, which manages royal property. There are fifty-five more years remaining on the lease.

Not only is Royal Lodge a prime property surrounded by gorgeous gardens and enclosed for security, the house has a colorful history woven into the lives of the King and his siblings, their late mother, and their grandparents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.

It dates to the seventeenth century and was occupied at times by kings as well as commoners. But it didn’t become a family home until 1931, when King George V gave it to his second son, Prince Albert (Bertie). Bertie and Elizabeth, then the Duke and Duchess of York, had been longing for their own house in the country, and they jumped at the opportunity. “I hope you will always call it The Royal Lodge, by which name it has been known ever since George IV built it,” the King wrote to Bertie. Everyone in the royal family disregarded George V’s request and called it Royal Lodge.

The house needed major renovations, and despite initial misgivings about the practicality of Royal Lodge, Queen Mary reveled in serving as a project manager for her son and daughter-in-law. She suggested room rearrangements as well as “advantageous terms” for carpets and curtains. “We arrange this privately,” she wrote to Bertie. The Queen also secured the services of the Duke of Westminster, who lent the Yorks “a shop for 3 months” to help with the work. Bertie did much of the designing himself, and Elizabeth used inexpensive linoleum to cut costs.