Prince Andrew continues to live at his Royal residence despite confusion over how he pays the rent and reports that his brother King Charles wants him to leave. Since 2004, the Duke of York has been living at Royal Lodge in Windsor with his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, following a lease agreement made after the Queen Mother’s death.
Despite the property’s hefty £30million valuation, King Charles is said to have been urging his brother to leave for over a year. The Duke’s financial situation came under scrutiny after it emerged that Charles had cut off Andrew’s £1million ‘living allowance’ amid the fallout from his part in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
This raised questions about how he would manage the annual rent of £260,000 and maintenance costs of around £400,000. Nevertheless, Prince Andrew seems to be holding his ground. Amidst growing rumours about the Duke’s financial predicament, insiders claim to know who’s footing the bill for his expenses.
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A source reportedly close to the royals told the Mail that Charles himself could have been settling Andrew’s accounts.
They said: “He [Andrew] just doesn’t have that many friends any more. He barely goes out, he’s not that welcome anywhere. So it’s got to be family, and the obvious person is the King. I mean, why would anybody who’s not family want to give him money when they’re not going to get anything out of it except a lot of flack? ”
The Mirror reports another individual claiming that Charles has guaranteed Prince Andrew’s continued residence at Royal Lodge, covering the expenses himself rather than using public funds. A purported guest at the Windsor estate remarked: “Charles has paid for it all. The King has cleared it. It’s all done.”
As the festive season looms, a Royal writer suggests that a significant choice faces Charles concerning Andrew’s participation in the traditional Christmas day walk to church with the Royal family at Sandringham.
Despite his destroyed reputation after remaining friends with convicted paedophile Epstein, for the past two years, Andrew has joined the procession to church alongside the Monarch, Queen Camilla, and his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, with Sarah Ferguson accompanying them last year. Indications that Andrew will be joining the firm for Christmas could suggest the Royal brothers still maintain a relationship.
However, Royal commentator Stephen Bates cautions that this should not be interpreted as a complete reconciliation, pointing out: “Charles has a clear sense of the damage Andrew has done to the institution of monarchy.”
In the wake of his infamous Newsnight interview leading to his retreat from Royal duties five years prior, Andrew is thought to spend considerable time at Royal Lodge. His days are seemingly filled with horseback rides and golf sessions.
In 1931, Royal Lodge was gifted to George VI and the Queen Mother, then known as the Duke and Duchess of York, as a weekend getaway. After the Queen Mother’s passing, the lease for Royal Lodge was handed over to Prince Andrew.
The lease included not just the main house, but also the Gardener’s Cottage, the Chapel Lodge, six Lodge Cottages, police security accommodation and an impressive 40 hectares of land. He was expected to foot the bill for any renovations, which reportedly amounted to around £7.5million.
In 2004, he moved into Royal Lodge with his two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, and shortly after, his ex-wife Sarah joined them after signing a 75-year lease. Frogmore Cottage, the residence reportedly being set aside for Andrew, was previously the UK home of Harry and Meghan.