The Prince of Scandal refuses to leave the king's luxury villa

 

Royally
Prince Andrew
King Charles may force his brother to move
Prince Andrew is no longer allowed to stay at the Royal Lodge

Jenny Alexandersson

Published 2024-09-13 21.23

For two years, the king has been trying to persuade his brother to move out of the royal 30-room villa.

Prince Andrew refuses.

Now the king has lost patience and, according to information, will deal with the hard gloves.

Quick version

• King Charles has grown tired of Prince Andrew refusing to leave the large villa Royal Lodge.
• Prince Andrew lost his royal duties and appanage in 2019, making it difficult for him to maintain the Royal Lodge, which is falling into disrepair.
• The king now threatens to take the hard gloves and issue an ultimatum, which puts the prince in a difficult dilemma.

Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah "Fergie" Ferguson live at Royal Lodge, which the prince had to take over from his grandmother when she died. The house has 30 rooms and King Charles considers it too big for two people. Photo: Getty Images

Prince Andrew took over the large white villa Royal Lodge after his grandmother, the Queen Mother. The prince has a lease that runs for 75 years, which should make him safe until his death.

But King Charles has other plans for his brother and for the Great House. The King is frugal and believes that Andrew and his ex-wife Fergie, who also lives at Royal Lodge, do not need all these rooms since the two daughters Eugenie and Beatrice have moved out.

Since 2019, Andrew has also not had any duties for the royal house. Then Queen Elizabeth kicked him out of the royal household after the prince reconciled with Virginia Giuffre who accused him of rape.

The Royal Lodge is located in Windsor and has 30 rooms and a large park. Photo: TT

Got rid of his appanage

That a piano-stomping prince with no representation duties lives in one of the finest royal residences is simply unacceptable.

Besides, it's about money.

The king wants to be thrifty and economical. Prince Andrew can no longer afford to maintain the large house and park, which has led to the house falling into disrepair.

Andrew lost his share of the appanage when he was kicked out of the royal house. Now he lives on a pension from the navy - and private money from his brother the king.

King Charles has offered his brother a slightly smaller residence. According to information, it is Frogmore Cottage, the house that Harry and Meghan were given by Queen Elizabeth. It has been completely renovated and is also located on royal grounds at Windsor Castle.

There, Prince Andrew can benefit from the security arrangements already in place at Windsor and the King does not have to pay for Andrew's bodyguards out of his own pocket. That sum amounts to around 40 million per year.

King Charles and Queen Camilla. The King believes that his little brother Prince Andrew should move to a smaller residence that better matches Andrew's wallet. The king is tired of paying for the prince's expenses. Photo: TT

The prince's great dilemma

The king is also said to have agreed to continue supporting his brother with his private money should Andrew move to Frogmore.

But Andrew refuses to move out and the British press calls the situation "the siege of the Royal Lodge".

Now the king plans to deal with hard gloves, reports The Times and Independent.

• From October, King Charles will not renew the contract with Prince Andrew's security firm. He will thus not pay for his brother's bodyguards anymore.
• Andrew has now been given an ultimatum and must leave the Royal Lodge if things are not to get worse for him.
• It is also said that the king is considering withdrawing his brother's "maintenance allowance", which is said to be very generous. The money comes from the King's private income which he receives from the Duchy of Lancaster.

Prince Andrew faces a dilemma.

Either he agrees to move to a smaller house with a bit of wounded pride in the bag. Or he insists on staying, which will mean he can no longer afford to take care of the Royal Lodge.

The house will fall into disrepair - and the king will not accept that.