After all, what is special about Royal Lodge? (Picture Courtesy: Instagram)
Lifestyle Desk, New Delhi. After the recent announcement by Britain's King Charles, the Royal Lodge is once again in the headlines. Amid the controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, King Charles has ordered his brother Prince Andrew to strip him of his "Prince" title and vacate the Royal Lodge.
The grand lodge in Windsor Great Park has been Prince Andrew's home for the past two decades, but its future now faces uncertainty. Let us know about this special Royal Lodge.
What is Royal Lodge and why is it special?
The Royal Lodge is a huge 30-room mansion located within Windsor Great Park, west of London. The property is officially owned by the Crown Estate and is spread over 40 hectares. There is a swimming pool, aviary, six lodge cottages, a gardener's house and a separate residence for the policemen deployed for royal security. It is very close to Windsor Castle, Frogmore Cottage and Forest Lodge, which further increases its security.
How did Prince Andrew get the Royal Lodge?
The late Queen Elizabeth II had given the right to live in the Royal Lodge to her third son, Prince Andrew. Andrew paid £1 million for the property in 2003 and took a 75-year lease, valid until 2078. As per the terms of the lease, he had to bear full responsibility for repairs and maintenance. Under this, he gave an initial amount of about 7.5 million pounds and got the renovation done on a large scale, which was completed by 2005. Interestingly, the lease stipulated only one ‘peppercorn’ as the annual rent “if demanded”.
Royal history spanning two centuries
The history of the Royal Lodge goes back to the 1660s. In the early 19th century George IV converted it into a hunting lodge and private retreat, after which it received the name Royal Lodge. It was rebuilt in the 1930s. This is where Queen Elizabeth II spent her childhood years, when she lived with her parents, the then Duke and Duchess of York. The Queen Mother also later kept it as her Windsor residence until her death in 2002.
Prince Andrew made many structural changes here. These include interior roofing, exterior painting, new tarmacking at the gate entrance, lighting and security cameras. Due to security reasons, permission had already been given for the construction of police house and conservatory.
Queen Elizabeth II's Play House
The Royal Lodge complex also contains a small cottage named 'Y Bwthyn Bach', which was presented to Queen Elizabeth II by the people of Wales on her sixtieth birthday. This was the children's playhouse where Queen Elizabeth spent her childhood.