No wonder Andrew loves his caravan! How a mobile home can be palatial

The mere mention of a caravan may spark childhood flashbacks of holidays in cramped conditions, making midnight dashes to the toilet block.

But many of today’s mobile homes are in a different league, with palatial decor, including gold freestanding bathtubs, and designs as wide as 60ft – more than twice the size of the average UK house.

So, perhaps it’s no wonder that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is said to be a fan after securing a second-hand static caravan last week, which is housed in the back garden of Marsh Lodge, his new permanent home on the Sandringham Estate following his exile from Windsor.

The five-bedroom bolthole shielded from public view by a 6ft fence is still being extensively renovated in preparation for the former Duke’s arrival, and so, the caravan has been handy for him to use during site visits, sources claimed. 

The temporary structure – a £26,000 Willerby Meridian Lodge – was paid for using money his brother, King Charles, gave him for ‘living expenses’ and it will house his security detail as there is not enough space in his main Norfolk home.

Surprisingly, Andrew – who is currently living a mile and a half away at Wood Farm, the home of his late father, Prince Philip, is said to be delighted with the caravan.

One source told The Mail On Sunday: ‘Andrew uses it himself, would you believe, and what’s more shocking is, he likes it. He really is a changed man; he’s enjoyed sitting in the caravan. It’s novel for him.’

But it’s not only the ex Prince who is a fan of a caravan; This Morning presenter Josie Gibson will ‘happily live in a caravan forever’, according to insiders, after she moved into her mobile home last year while extensive renovations are done on her house.

These days, caravans offer customers the opportunity to live in an abode fit for a Hollywood celebrity for a fraction of the price.

One such family-run UK business making homeowner’s dreams come true by building lavish mobile homes with deluxe finishes for less than £200,000 is CS Vanguard Park Homes, based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire.

Mobile homes are a popular choice among the Traveller community, with Alfie Best, otherwise known as the ‘Gypsy billionaire’, amassing a fortune by building a mobile property portfolio including 101 residential parks.

Now, others have caught wind of the lucrative business idea, including CS Vanguard Park Homes which produces lavish static homes, which start at £48,000 and can take as little as six months to build.

While the company assembles the luxury homes, customers get to play interior designer because the insides, including the bedroom, kitchen style, and layout, are completely customizable.

The company has racked up thousands of followers across its social media channels, with each keen to get a taste of the high life at an affordable price.

Customers start the experience with a consultation, which includes a tour of the workshop and a discussion on the design process. 

After the initial meeting, the business will devise a layout plan depending on the size desired and provide a quotation. ‘If you are happy to go ahead, we will offer you an available building slot and take a small deposit,’ the website reads.

The construction warning highlights that potential homeowners should reach out to local planning consultants to ensure the process can run smoothly.

After the customer is content and has approved a digital version of the home, the building can commence.The last step is delivery, which is up to the customer to organise and secure insurance for.

The price includes a 20-year waterproof warranty, a combi gas boiler, integrated kitchen appliances, and vaulted ceilings to the main living areas.

Popular extras purchased by customers to elevate their homes include mirror televisions, air conditioning, and bespoke feature walls.

Meanwhile, in 2024, the ‘most expensive static caravan ever’ went up for sale, with a holiday park predicting the £1.5million lodge set a ‘new British record’.

The property, located in Sandhills Holiday Park, Christchurch, Dorset, left house hunters ‘astounded’ at its staggering nine-figure price.

Listed as an ‘extraordinary holiday home’, the lodge promised ‘breathtaking panoramic sea views’ over Christchurch Harbour.

Park Holidays UK who represented Sandhills said it ‘may be setting a new British record for the price of a holiday lodge on a park’ – but said it is a ‘remarkable’ holiday home that is cheaper than houses in the area.

Marketed by estate agents Denisons, the property spans just 958sq ft of interior space – but manages to squeeze in three bedrooms, two bathrooms, an open plan kitchen and living area and a sky deck, but is only available for 11 months of the year.

The £1.5m holiday home prompted mixed reactions on social media – including many pointing out that it ‘only’ had 31 years left on its lease.

Many users were shocked by the high price, with one comment branding it a ‘glorified shed’.

Others pointed out that the ‘great location’ in Christchurch, a sought after holiday destination, justified the property’s expense.

The caravan park is open for 11 months of the year – all besides February – and houses a range of caravans, lodges and luxury apartments, which are for holiday use only.

Owners share an outdoor heated swimming pool with neighbours and have access to a gym, lounge bar and a children’s play area.

But the pricey mobile home isn’t the only proof that caravans can now be stylish, chic and decidedly palatial.

In 2020, a first-of-its-kind holiday caravan that was designed to look just like Buckingham Palace inside was unveiled – and it only cost £13.25 per person per night.

Called The Royal Caravan, it featured chandeliers in every room, two gold-plated toilets, custom gold and red-velvet thrones ‘to command from’, a master-bedroom four-poster bed with crown decoration – and for guests with corgis, a dog-friendly royal dog bed and gold-plated dog bowls. 

The caravan, which is located in Cayton Bay, Scarborough, used to look a little more ordinary, of course, but Parkdean Resorts, which rented it out, gave it a £100,000 makeover to make it fit for royalty.