Prince William and Kate Middleton 'set deadline for Andrew to leave Royal Lodge' before Forest Lodge move
The Prince and Princess of Wales are planning to relocate to Forest Lodge soon
Prince William and Kate Middleton reportedly want Prince Andrew to vacate Royal Lodge within days ahead of the Wales family’s planned move to Forest Lodge, also located on the Windsor estate.
According to reports, the Prince and Princess of Wales want to settle into their new eight-bedroom “forever home” in the coming weeks and are pushing for Andrew’s exit from the 30-room mansion he’s occupied for more than 20 years.
Prince William and Kate Middleton ‘want’ Prince Andrew to vacate Royal Lodge before Forest Lodge move
“Catherine shudders at the thought of living so close to Royal Lodge while Prince Andrew is still in it,” a source told the Daily Mail. “William wants him gone before they start to move in next week. It’s not about what Andrew doesn’t want to do anymore. It’s about what he’s going to be told to do.”
William and Kate had allegedly previously hoped to move into Royal Lodge. But with Andrew apparently refusing to budge, they temporarily settled in Adelaide Cottage, a modest four-bedroom home, in August 2022.
“Them going into Adelaide Cottage was never the plan,” the source continued. “But they were forced to because Prince Andrew wouldn’t shift.”
William wants him gone before they start to move in next week.
Now, with their eyes firmly on Forest Lodge, the Waleses are reportedly preparing their children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis – to move in.
Forest Lodge promises a more relaxed setting where William and Kate hope to raise their children away from the intensity of public scrutiny. It also provides more space than Adelaide Cottage.
Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson to vacate Royal Lodge. It comes amid renewed public outrage over the “peppercorn rent” lease that has allowed them to live there essentially rent-free for more than two decades.
Royal Lodge lease
Despite no longer being a working royal, Andrew reportedly remains legally protected by a “cast iron” 75-year lease. The agreement was signed in 2003.
Andrew reportedly made significant lump-sum payments up front when the lease was signed in 2003. These included £7.5million in renovation costs, completed in 2005, as well as £1million for the lease.
Documents reveal that since completing the renovations in 2005, Andrew has only paid a symbolic “one peppercorn per year” in rent, and only “if demanded”. This amounts to a small sum, reportedly as little as £1.
A source told The Times recently that the king is under pressure to intervene directly.
They claimed: “[He] should say to Andrew’s face, ‘There’s no choice here. You must leave Royal Lodge. Whatever the lease says. You say you always put your family and country first. Prove it.'”
Prince Andrew allegations
Meanwhile, the push to remove Andrew from Royal Lodge has gained momentum following the release of his accuser Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir. The book details Ms Giuffre’s allegations of sexual assault against Andrew. He has always vehemently denied the accusations.
In 2021, Andrew faced a US civil lawsuit brought by Ms Giuffre. She alleged she had been made to have sex with the prince after she was trafficked by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In early 2022, they reached an out-of-court settlement for an undisclosed sum. However, the royal repeated that the settlement did not mean any liability or admission of guilt.
On October 17 of this year, Buckingham Palace released a statement announcing that Andrew would stop using his remaining royal titles and honours, including his Duke of York title which he was given in 1986.
Negotiations between Andrew’s camp and King Charles’ representatives reportedly continue. According to new reports, Andrew and Sarah have made a demand – Royal Lodge in exchange for Frogmore Cottage and Adelaide Cottage.
Royal Insider has contacted reps for Kensington Palace for comment.
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