Sarah Ferguson’s £4million Belgravia home remains empty as duchess dragged into royal row
Sarah Ferguson’s empty £4million central London home has sparked questions about whether the duchess and Prince Andrew could move from Royal Lodge amid a row with King Charles.
As Andrew continues to grapple with the King over keeping his royal residence in Windsor, Fergie has been hauled into the row after neighbours claimed the house remains empty.
The two-bedroom Georgian house is located in Belgravia – a short distance from the homes of their two daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
The prince is understood to have been asked to leave Royal Lodge – which he shares with ex wife Fergie – and move to Frogmore Cottage amid security concerns.
The Duke of York is said to have refused to give up the 30-room royal residence.
But since being purchased two years ago, Fergie’s London home has lying empty for a significant period of time, neighbours claim.
“It’s been empty for quite a while now, but we have seen Fergie on the odd occasion but I’m not sure how long she actually stayed there,” one local told the MailOnline.
“Everybody around here knows that she owns it but there’s not much coming and going.
Another added: “I’ve never seen anybody go in and out of there or seen the lights on at night. But that’s not unusual for around here because a lot of the homes are not occupied on a regular basis.”
Some have now suggested both Sarah and Andrew could move in and return Royal Lodge to the monarch.
According to official Land Registry documents, Sarah cannot sell the home without written consent from her daughters – which one source claimed is possibly because they had paid for the sale.
However, Andrew is refusing to budge and is under no obligation to vacate the Royal Lodge with over five decades remaining on the lease he signed in 2003.
King Charles has been funding private security guards that cost £3million a year since Andrew lost his armed police protection.
Royal biographer and historian Andrew Lownie said: “I don’t think they will move, I don’t think there are any grounds to get them out.
“He [Andrew] has grandchildren, the two girls grew up there. I think it’s a complete red herring.”
But despite Andrew no longer being a working royal, Lownie claims he and Sarah generate enough money to afford the private security required to keep them safe in Windsor.
