This post has been updated since it was originally published to include recent facts.
Prince Andrew, 63, has reportedly been telling friends that there is “no chance” he will leave his Royal Lodge on the Windsor Estate, which comes complete with 98 acres of land and a swimming pool, amid claims that his older brother King Charles, 74, could be evicting him. While King Charles isn’t *explicitly* evicting him, the disgraced royal *could* find himself unable to pay for the property’s upkeep if the King majorly slashes his allowance next month, which he is reportedly more than likely to do. Yikes!
Prince Andrew currently lives at Royal Lodge (which is situated three miles away from Windsor Castle and was previously lived in by the late Queen Mother) with ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York. Also on the grounds of the Royal Lodge is the Royal Chapel of All Saints, where their daughter Princess Beatrice’s wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi took place back in July 2020.
Prince Andrew May Not Be Able To Afford To Live In 'Royal Lodge'
Several outlets have reported that the disgraced royal allegedly told his friends about his living situation after learning that he could be forced out of the 30-room 17th century property, which he reportedly signed a 75-year lease for in 2003 for a one-off payment of £1M, because he won't be able to afford its upkeep if his annual £250,000 allowance is slashed in April.
King Charles reportedly told his family that they all need to "tighten their belts," which led Prince Andrew to fear that he would be unable to pay his bills if further cuts were made. He is currently financially backed by funds from the Duchy of Lancaster, which is the King's personal estate. He stopped receiving public funding in 2019 after he stepped down as a working royal following the sexual assault allegations from Virginia Giuffre, but is understood to have received an allowance from his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.
What Has The Palace Said About Prince Andrew's Possible Eviction?
However, contrary to what Prince Andrew is telling friends, the King – who is still paying for his private security, may we add – has insisted that his brother will not exactly be homeless. "The King is not going to leave his brother homeless or penniless," a source reportedly told the Telegraph.
Another source told MailOnline: "He's not being explicitly kicked out but it's expected that he won't be able to afford the maintenance. Royal Lodge has a swimming pool, 98 acres of land and is already in need of some repair."
Prince Andrew has reportedly spent over £7M in recent years on improvements to the property, which is another reason why he has allegedly told friends that he isn’t going anywhere! A royal source told The Mirror, "He [said] he's not leaving, there is no chance that will happen and even if the King wanted him how would that work?" The insider then went on to reference the work that Prince Andrew had done on the property over the years, adding: "If he (the King) wants to spend millions reimbursing him for the money he's already spent on the property, that's another matter." We assume everything will be handled privately, as another insider told The Mirror: "Could you imagine a situation where the Duke threatens to sue his brother, the King, over money? It would be unthinkable."
Prince Andrew Also Has 'No Place' At Buckingham Palace
King Charles has also sent Prince Andrew packing from Buckingham Palace. The Duke of York, who has faced numerous allegations since his reported friendship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein surfaced, has been told "there is no longer any place" for him at the official royal residence.
"The King has made it clear that Buckingham Palace is no place for Prince Andrew," a source told The Sun. This comes just months before King Charles III's coronation in May. Apparently the official reason for Andrew's eviction is a planned 10-year-long renovation at the palace, which includes Prince Andrew's suite, known as the Chamber Floor. The renovation is reportedly going to cost upwards of $400M. The banning serves as yet another slap in the face to Andrew, who was kicked out of his Buckingham Palace office, barred from using his HRH ('His Royal Highness') moniker, and lost his patronages last year. Andrew is still a Royal Knight of the Garter and a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.
"First his office closed last year and now his sleeping quarters," a royal insider reportedly told The Sun. "Andrew loved having a suite at Buckingham Palace, where he was not only set up for marital life with Sarah Ferguson but used it as a bachelor's pad after his divorce. In the past, he brought back a string of new girlfriends to his home in the palace. A bachelor's flat in St James' Palace doesn't have the same allure for a single man," the source added.
"Any presence at the palace is officially over," The Sun's source said. "The King has made it clear. He isn't a working royal. He's on his own." One thing's for certain, it seems like the Crown is desperately trying to distance itself from Prince Andrew and his controversies.
The retraction of Andrew's official royal labels came about during his sordid sexual assault case filed by Virginia Giuffre, who claimed that Jeffrey Epstein made her have "disgusting" sex with the royal three times when she was just 17. Andrew's lawyers say he "unequivocally denies Giuffre's false allegations against him" but, he ended up settling the case out of court in February 2022.
Andrew was notoriously photographed by The Post strolling with the pedophile in 2011 following Epstein's first release from prison. He has since denied knowing anything about Epstein's illegal activities which include sexual assault, soliciting a child prostitute, and sex trafficking. Epstein himself mysteriously died behind bars in 2019 while awaiting trial on child sex-trafficking charges. Prince Harry recently slammed his uncle in his new memoir, Spare, over his connections to Epstein.
Royal Fans Point Out 'Hypocrisy' Of Prince Harry And Meghan Markle's Treatment Versus Prince Andrew's
Royal fans are defending Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and pointing out the "hypocrisy" and double standards in the way the royal couple was treated by the public, the press, and the royal family compared to Prince Andrew, especially after he reached a multi-million-dollar settlement with Virginia Giuffre. In a statement, the Duke of York confirmed the settlement and also said he regretted his association with Epstein.
Hmm pic.twitter.com/eRRWDhR2XL
— Ava-Santina (@AvaSantina) February 15, 2022
Taking into consideration the settlement, which is supposed to be as high as £12M (or close to $15M), many have pointed out the double standard in the treatment of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The couple announced that they would be abdicating in January 2020 because of treatment from the royal family, the public, and the press. They have since relocated to California. As the tweet mentions, tabloids seem to be much more critical of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle than Prince Andrew.
