Prince Andrew under fire over ‘shocking state’ of Royal Lodge home amid ongoing ‘row’ with King Charles
The Duke of York has lived at the residence since 2004
Prince Andrew – who resides at the sprawling Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park – is once again under scrutiny as reports have emerged about the “shocking state” of the property’s gardens.
The Duke of York, 64, has lived in the 30-room mansion since 2004.
However, Prince Andrew has faced mounting pressure to vacate the estate since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.
Reports now suggest that the estate, including its 21 acres of gardens, has fallen into significant disrepair.
Prince Andrew’s home Royal Lodge in ‘shocking state’
Todd Longstaffe-Gowan, the Historic Royal Palaces gardener, didn’t mince words when describing the condition of the Royal Lodge’s grounds.
“It is in a shocking state,” he told the Daily Mail. “I won’t be knocking that into shape! It is impossible! I’ve been at Kensington Palace for 30 years, and I think Royal Lodge would be quite impossible.”
Once home to immaculately maintained flowers, shrubbery and woodland, the estate’s gardens are now reportedly overgrown and neglected.
Despite Prince Andrew’s attempts to manage the property on his own, insiders say his efforts have done little to reverse its decline.
I won’t be knocking that into shape! It is impossible!
The state of disrepair also extends beyond the gardens.
Inside the lodge, shelves that once displayed valuable artifacts are now bare after King Charles reportedly began removing items due to security and maintenance concerns.
Prince Andrew and King Charles in dispute over royal residence
The reported dispute over Royal Lodge has further strained relations between Prince Andrew and King Charles, reports claim.
Since Queen Elizabeth II’s death, Charles has reportedly been eager to have Andrew vacate the property.
A source told Women’s Day recently that Andrew is now relying on the queen’s beloved corgis, Muick and Sandy, to shield him from eviction.
“He’s banking on the canines to shield him from moving. The queen would be rolling in her grave over this,” they claimed.
The source added: “It shows just how bad things are between them that Andrew feels his brother values those two dogs more than him – and enough to make sure he’s properly taken care of.”
Charles is reportedly “appalled” by Andrew’s tactics, seeing them as a “low blow” in their ongoing row.
Royal Insider contacted reps for comment on this story.
Duke of York ‘snubbed’ from royal dinner
Prince Andrew has kept a low profile since stepping back from royal duties in 2019 amid the fallout from his association with late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. After being accused of sexual assault by Virginia Giuffre – an alleged victim of Epstein – in a lawsuit, Andrew denied the allegations and they settled out of court in 2022.
He is rarely seen at public events and has reportedly been snubbed by other members of the royal family.
Earlier this month, Andrew was apparently absent from a dinner at Windsor Castle hosted by Princess Anne.
This was despite his history with Gordonstoun, the school the event was honouring.
“I’m sure the Duke would have loved to have attended the dinner if he had been invited,” a source told the MailOnline.
The future of Royal Lodge is uncertain as Andrew is reportedly clinging to his lease, which extends until 2078.
For now, the property’s deteriorating state and the strained relations between the duke and the king will continue to make headlines.
Read more: Sarah Ferguson on living at Royal Lodge with Prince Andrew as she declared: ‘I won’t let him down’
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