Skip to main contentSkip to footer
Prince Andrew and Royal Lodge© Getty / Shutterstock

Real reason Prince Andrew is fighting King Charles to keep Royal Lodge

The King no longer has financial ties to his brother

November 14, 2024
Share this:

The Duke of York has remained living at Royal Lodge in Windsor, despite the King cutting off his brother's annual 'living allowance'.

And despite being offered to downsize and move into Prince Harry and Meghan's former home, Frogmore Lodge, Prince Andrew is continuing to reside at the 30-room mansion in Windsor Great Park.

Speaking on the latest episode of HELLO!'s A Right Royal Podcast, author Robert Hardman shares his thoughts on why the Duke has refused to budge from the property.

"Someone said to me the other day, he's got nothing else," he said. "He's got no public life. He has no public role. And he's clearly devoted to this home, and he likes being there. So, if he can make it work, he's going to try."

Listen to the full episode here...

LISTEN: Remembrance, Earthshot and Camilla's BIG TV moment

Citing an insider source, Robert writes in an updated version of his biography, Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story: "'The Duke is no longer a financial burden on the King,' confirms one familiar with the situation.

"'He claims to have found other sources of income related to his contacts in international trade, sufficient to cover all his costs – which would be a welcome outcome for all parties if that turns out to be the case.

"'But as to whether this funding can be relied upon in the long term is another matter.'"

Royal Lodge aerial view© Shutterstock
Royal Lodge faces extensive repairs

The royal residence, which was once the Windsor home of the late Queen Mother, reportedly requires extensive repairs, with photographs published by The Sun earlier this month showing crumbling paintwork and cracks on its exterior.

Andrew was said to have signed a 75-lease on the Royal Lodge in 2003, but the disgraced Duke stepped back as a senior royal in November 2019, following his TV interview with BBC Newsnight, which focused on his connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Princess Anne, Sir Timothy Laurence, Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew leave after attending the Easter Mattins Service at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle© Getty
Andrew, pictured on Easter Sunday, no longer carries out royal duties

In February 2022, Andrew reached an undisclosed out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre, after she sued him claiming she was trafficked by Epstein to have sex with the royal when she was 17 and a minor under US law.

The Duke has vehemently denied the allegations.

In January 2022, he was stripped of his honorary military roles and lost the use of his HRH style in an official capacity.

ROYAL FAN? JOIN THE CLUB

Welcome to The HELLO! Royal Club, where thousands of royal fans like you get to delve deeper into the wonderful world of royalty every day. Want to join them? Just click the button below for a list of club benefits and joining information.

COMING UP...

  • Quiz of the year
  • The most extravagant royal Christmas ever

Sign up to HELLO! Daily for all the latest and best royal coverage

By entering your details, you are agreeing to HELLO! Magazine User Data Protection Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information please click here.

More Royalty

See more