Andrew BOOTED out of Royal Lodge 'under the cover of darkness'

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been booted out of Royal Lodge in the dead of night - as he begins his new chapter on the King's Sandringham Estate.

The former Duke of York was told to leave his stately home earlier than expected after his brother King Charles became increasingly concerned by allegations made against him, it is understood.

It follows the publication of an email on Monday night, released in the latest batch of the Epstein files, where Andrew appeared to tell paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein he wanted to be his 'pet'.

Police also announced on Tuesday they would assess claims Epstein trafficked a second woman to the UK to have sex with the disgraced former Prince.

Andrew is now believed to have vacated his £30million, 31-room Royal Lodge - three months after handing back his lease.

He was driven 132 miles to Sandringham and transported 'under the cover of darkness'.

Andrew will be temporarily staying at Wood Farm Cottage before moving permanently next door to Marsh Farm by the start of April, upon completion of renovations.

Insiders have told the Daily Mail that Andrew may pop up at Windsor again 'from time to time' to complete his move, or to even go riding again.

They suggested that it would take 'some time' to fully clear Royal Lodge of every last box, and that the former Duke of York would likely need to go back there to stay occasionally over the next few months.

'He will now live in Norfolk but may be back at Windsor from time to time,' a source said.

A steady stream of vehicles were also said to have been spotted leaving the Windsor mansion after Andrew's exit.

The former prince is now under mounting pressure to co-operate with US officials investigating Epstein's crimes, with sources saying it is a 'matter of personal conscience' as well as his public duty.

While Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on the latest revelations from the US Department of Justice file dump, royal sources told the Daily Mail on Monday night that 'providing testimony is now a matter for Andrew and his conscience'.

Insiders also said it was always a principle that those who have relevant information should 'participate in any lawful inquiry on any subject'.

The development will add fuel to the fire of calls for the former prince to break his self-imposed silence and publicly co-operate with officials investigating Epstein's crimes - and the network of contacts that aided and abetted him.

However, despite being seen driving and riding around Windsor - where he was, astonishingly, photographed smiling and waving to onlookers without an apparent care in the world on Monday - there continued to be a deafening silence from the former royal.

It is understood King Charles was not aware of the level of detail in the latest files, which reveal the depths of the relationship between his brother and the paedophile.

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Buckingham Palace appears to be learning about the new material at the same time as the public.

But the ensuing headlines will be troubling given Andrew was a working member of the Royal Family and held a prestigious role as a UK trade ambassador during his association with Epstein. 

The King and Queen pointedly stated last October, as it was announced Andrew was being stripped of his titles, that their 'thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse'.

Although Andrew has now transferred into his new abode, his former wife Sarah Ferguson is not thought to have been so lucky.

She is yet to find a new permanent property because she won't move in with her ex and the pair's children can't offer them a residence, it has been claimed.

The former Duchess of York is in the midst of a 'housing crisis' and is clinging on to the hope of finding a new place in Windsor.

But the 66-year-old will have to 'lower her expectations' about the standard of her next home after decades in the Royal Lodge.

Fergie is said to be in a 'fragile' state over her fall from grace, telling friends her recent travails were 'not good for my mental health'.

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Andrew and Fergie lost their titles and their Windsor mansion, previously home to the Queen Mother, over their long friendship with the billionaire paedophile, Epstein.

But while Andrew is begrudgingly off to Sandringham, Ms Ferguson 'will not be moving in' because she 'would prefer to stay in the Windsor area', a source close to her said.

'Relations are warmer between Ferguson and the couple's daughters, but no offer of permanent accommodation has been extended to their mother', a report in The Times added.

'For now, Andrew and Sarah have a housing crisis. It may mean that they have to lower their expectations about the sort of lifestyle they wish to lead.'

Thames Valley Police said on Tuesday it would assess an allegation that Epstein trafficked a second woman to the UK to have sex with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

The alleged encounter is said to have taken place at Royal Lodge in 2010.

The claims mark the first time an Epstein survivor has alleged they were sexually abused at a royal residence.

The woman, who is not British and was in her 20s at the time, said she was given a tour of Buckingham Palace and tea after spending the night with Andrew.

Meanwhile, the revelation on Tuesday that Sarah Ferguson sent a flirty email to Jeffrey Epstein describing a 'single' female friend with 'a great body' he should get to know after he was convicted of child sex crimes added fuel to the flames.

The former Duchess of York also suggested in a personal email to the paedophile that he could marry her and they could take on the mystery woman as a member of their staff.

Allegations were first made against Andrew by Virginia Giuffre in 2014, who claimed she was trafficked by him at the age of 17.

The former prince has consistently denied all wrongdoing.