Inside King Charles' ‘bitter row’ with Prince Andrew over Royal Lodge - from monarch’s ‘threat’ to ‘low blow’ involving queen’s corgis
Andrew has a 75-year lease on the propertyKing Charles has been reportedly desperate to kick his brother, Prince Andrew, out of Royal Lodge ever since he became king.
From the monarch’s reported threats to evict his brother to Andrew’s alleged “low blow” attempt to turn the tide, here’s an inside look at their dispute over the royal residence…
King Charles’ ‘row’ with Prince Andrew over Royal Lodge
Royal Lodge is a 30-room building located within Windsor Great Park in Berkshire.
It was previously the Queen Mother’s home before her death in 2002.
In 2003, Prince Andrew, 64, signed a 75-year lease on the residence up until 2078.
Part of the deal was that he would have to maintain the home himself, which reportedly costs around £400,000 per year.
The lease also states that Andrew must repaint its external walls every five years from 2008. He also has to redecorate the inside every seven years from 2010.
Andrew moved into the home in 2004. His ex-wife Sarah Ferguson moved in in 2008, 12 years after their divorce.
Where Prince Andrew gets his money from
In 2019, following the Duke of York’s disastrous Newsnight interview where he was grilled about his friendship with late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Andrew stepped away from royal duties.
In 2022, he settled a sexual assault civil case with his accuser Virginia Giuffre for an undisclosed sum.
Since leaving his role as a working royal, Andrew has not received public funds. It’s unknown how much he may have inherited from his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Reports claim Andrew also receives an armed forces pension.
He previously had a royal allowance of around £250,000 per year. However, according to reports, Charles may have cut this off.
So what has been going on between the two brothers over the last couple of years?
King Charles ‘gives Andrew a second chance’
In late 2023, reports claimed that King Charles 76, had given Andrew a “stay of execution”. This came after the duke made a deal with the monarch to carry out repairs on Royal Lodge.
The Mirror reported at the time that Andrew had been granted it after Charles accepted his brother should have more time to prove he could pay for the upkeep of the house.
However, sources close to the royals believed it was just a matter of time before Andrew would be evicted.
“It’s all a bit cloud cuckoo-land, I’m afraid. No one, not least His Majesty, believes there is any realistic, long-term chance of the Duke of York being able to keep the roof at Royal Lodge over his head,” one told the MailOnline at the time.
“It’s a massive property and estate that requires a huge amount of upkeep.”
King Charles’ ‘threat’ to Prince Andrew over Royal Lodge
In 2024, reports claimed that Andrew’s yearly allowance was to be cut.
The king apparently wanted Andrew to leave the property as he’d proven that he couldn’t maintain it. However, the king wasn’t going to leave his brother high and dry.
The monarch reportedly offered Frogmore Cottage – previously Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s UK home – to the disgraced prince. However, the Duke of York apparently refused the offer.
In the summer of last year, the king reportedly threatened to cut Andrew off if he did not vacate Royal Lodge.
“The king’s kindness is not without limit. There is a very good option for Andrew to move into Frogmore Cottage, recently vacated by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. [It] also has the benefit of being within the Windsor Castle security cordon hence reducing the need for alternative round-the-clock security for Royal Lodge,” a source told The Times last year.
“He [Andrew] is taking longer than desirable to recognise the reality of the situation, even though it is clearly the most sensible course of action. If he doesn’t agree to move to a property better suited to his needs, then the king may have to reconsider the levels of support he is willing to provide.”
Duke of York deals ‘low blow’ over corgis
Earlier this month, sources claimed that Andrew was turning to dirtier tactics to ensure that he remained in the Royal Lodge.
Since the queen’s death in 2022, Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York, have been looking after the late monarch’s corgis – Muick and Sandy.
Speaking to Women’s Day recently, a source claimed that Andrew is hoping that the dogs will shield him from being evicted.
“He’s banking on the canines to shield him from moving. The queen would be rolling in her grave over this,” they claimed.
“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,” they then continued.
Royal Insider contacted reps for the palace for comment.
A Channel 5 documentary titled The Battle for Royal Lodge: Andrew vs Charles is available to watch now.
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