The rift between Prince Andrew and King Charles over the Royal Lodge digs shows no signs of abating. Persistent murmurs suggest that King Charles wants his embattled brother to leave the grand 30-room mansion in Windsor Great Park for the humbler Frogmore Cottage.
Pundits believe Andrew’s generous £1 million yearly “living allowance” may have been slashed by Charles, sparking debate on how the Duke of York will cover the estate’s upkeep costs. The Royal Lodge has turned into a sanctuary for the reclusive Andrew, who withdrew from the public eye amid fallout over his ties with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Since stepping down following the disastrous Newsnight interview five years ago, Andrew is said to spend his days at the Windsor residence, engaging in horse riding and golf. Despite his low-profile existence, he seems to retain the support of two key Royal Family members.
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Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, whom Hello! magazine calls “concerned” daughters, are often seen visiting their dad over the weekends with their little ones. The Duke has been seen taking Beatrice’s three year old Sienna on pony rides around the Windsor estate, reports the Express.
An insider revealed to the publication: “The girls take the grandchildren to visit him most weekends. They are spending far more time with him now than they have done in recent years. They are quite close to their father; they seem to be quite protective towards him.”
Royal experts have suggested King Charles is faced with a significant choice regarding Prince Andrew as the holiday season approaches: whether to include him in the traditional Christmas church walk at Sandringham. Over the last couple of years, Andrew has been seen on the public walk to church with King Charles, Queen Camilla, and his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, as well as his ex-wife, Sarah.
The Times has hinted that if Andrew receives an invite this year, it would indicate he’s not completely cut off by his older brother. However, Royal commentator Stephen Bates has noted: “Charles has a clear sense of the damage Andrew has done to the institution of monarchy.”
Since 2004, Andrew has lived at Royal Lodge in the Windsor Estate, which he shares with his former wife Sarah Ferguson.
Steeped in history, Royal Lodge dates back to the 17th Century but became a Royal residence in the ’30s when it was given to George VI and the Queen Mother—then the Duke and Duchess of York—as their country retreat.
After the Queen Mother’s death, Prince Andrew was given a lease to Royal Lodge. This included not just the main house but also the Gardener’s Cottage, the Chapel Lodge, six Lodge Cottages, police security accommodation and a whopping 40 hectares of land.
He had to foot the bill for any refurbishments, which were rumoured to be around £7.5million. In 2004, he moved to Royal Lodge with his two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, and soon after, his ex-wife Sarah joined them after signing a 75-year lease.
Frogmore Cottage, reportedly being earmarked for Andrew, was previously the UK residence of Harry and Meghan. Last year, the couple had to hand back the keys to the property at the King’s request as they had barely used the home since their dramatic exit to California.