Prince Andrew, the disgraced Duke of York, is reportedly determined to hold on to his $38 million Royal Lodge on the grounds of Windsor Castle, despite pressure from his brother, King Charles III, to downsize.
Sources suggest that the 64-year-old prince is keen to stay put in the lavish estate, which he secured through a 75-year lease back in 2004.
- Advertisement -
Andrew’s position at the Royal Lodge has been in jeopardy since his controversial friendship with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein came to light in 2019.
The situation worsened when Andrew’s name was mentioned in the January release of the Jeffrey Epstein documents, further tarnishing his reputation.
Despite the ongoing scandal, King Charles, now 75, appears to be struggling to remove his younger brother from the property.
- Advertisement -
According to insiders, Andrew has a strategy to outlast his brother in the royal residence, noting that he is more than a decade younger than the king.
“Andrew can sit tight and finish the clock,” a source told The Daily Beast. “Andrew wants his brother to live long and prosper. He is fiercely loyal to the monarchy.”
However, the source also noted that the prince’s friends are puzzled by King Charles’ determination to evict him, viewing it as “childish and vindictive.”
The Post has reached out to Buckingham Palace for a comment, but there has been no official response.
In the meantime, Andrew has refused to move to Frogmore Cottage, which has been empty since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle vacated the five-bedroom property in June 2023.
According to palace sources, Andrew plans to pass on the Royal Lodge lease to his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, ensuring they can use the property after his death.
However, the Royal Lodge has reportedly fallen into disrepair, with the disgraced prince neglecting the annual $503,000 maintenance costs required to keep the Grade II listed property in good condition.
- Advertisement -
“The whole thing is a mess and arguing about it publicly is not helping the king,” a former courtier told the outlet.
Read More: Norwegian Princess Märtha Louise Marries Shaman Durek Verrett in Spectacular Royal Wedding
Ultimately, Andrew may be forced to pay a significant amount to give up the lease. But for now, she seems intent on staying at her royal home.
