Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie may have suffered a blow to their inheritance – after King Charles cut off their dad, Prince Andrew, financially. It’s understood the Head of the Commonwealth has stopped paying for his brother’s security in an attempt to cut costs, meaning Andrew has to fund it himself.
The warring Royals have been at odds with each other because the King wanted his baby brother to move into Frogmore Cottage, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s former home. The monarch wanted the Duke of York to leave the Royal Lodge home in Windsor where he had been staying. And a property expert has now said the issues could also extend to Andrew’s daughters.
The Mirror reports Eugenie and Beatrice may not be able to inherit Royal Lodge despite their father’s 75-year-lease. Speculation indicates that the 64-year-old has desires to keep the home within the family and leave it to his daughters.
However, Terry Fisher, of We Buy Any Home, shared why potential complications could occur and suggested any idea of inheritance may be difficult given the lease conditions, Aberdeen Live reported. The expert said: “Andrew’s long lease, reportedly lasting 75 years, shows that he’s invested significantly in Royal Lodge, giving him strong occupancy rights.
“He might hope to pass the property on to his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, once he can no longer reside there. However, Royal leases often include restrictions around succession, especially for properties intended to serve working royals.
“Such leases aren’t always straightforward inheritance-wise; transferring the lease to non-working members of the family could likely require the Crown Estate’s approval, especially under King Charles, who might prioritise other uses for Royal properties.
“In other words, while Andrew has substantial rights under the lease, he may still face limitations in passing it on to family without special permissions.”
The expert added the upkeep and security costs of the lodge are likely to mount to thousands of pounds annually, which could strain Andrew’s finances and potentially make it difficult for him to remain at the lodge. Prince William and his wife, Catherine, have been named as the logical choices to replace Andrew at the Royal Lodge, should he vacate it. But royal expert Richard Kay said the Prince of Wales “is not interested in the property” and is focused on Kate’s health.
Royal Lodge, once home to the Queen Mother, is a 19th-century Grade II-listed property with a pool and 90 acres of land. Andrew signed a 75-year lease for the house back in 2003 and lives there with his ex-wife Fergie.
But reports began to circulate in early 2023 that Charles was keen for his brother to move out and move into Frogmore Cottage, which has been recently renovated. Reports Charles decided to cut off his brother’s security costs emerged earlier this week in a new book by royal writer Robert Hardman.
It claimed the Keeper of the Privy Purse was ordered to sever the disgraced Duke of York’s annual personal allowance. That is said to be worth £1million a year, and his private security was also to be cut.
According to the book, a source said: “The duke is no longer a financial burden on the King.”
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