In a saga that seems straight out of a royal soap opera, Prince Andrew is reportedly devising a strategy to cling to his lavish residence at Royal Lodge, even as King Charles grapples with the complicated task of managing family dynamics and royal properties.
The Duke of York, now 64, has called the $38 million mansion on Windsor Castle grounds home since 2004, thanks to a 75-year lease he signed the previous year.
However, Andrew’s past, particularly his association with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, has cast a long shadow over his royal standing.
Since revelations about this friendship surfaced in 2019, he has faced mounting pressure to vacate his plush quarters.
The situation escalated further in January when Andrew was implicated in a trove of documents linked to Epstein, adding fuel to the fire of public scrutiny surrounding him.
Despite the controversies swirling around him, it appears that King Charles, now 75, is facing an uphill battle in his attempts to evict his brother from Royal Lodge.
Insiders suggest that Andrew may be playing the waiting game, hoping to outlast any efforts to remove him.
“Andrew can sit tight and run out the clock,” a source told the Daily Beast, hinting at the strategic maneuvering taking place behind palace walls.
The source elaborated that Andrew maintains a sense of loyalty to the monarchy, albeit with a hint of self-preservation.
“He wants his brother to live long and prosper,” they noted, while also pointing out the age difference between the two siblings—Andrew is more than a decade younger than Charles.
This age gap seems to play a role in Andrew’s confidence regarding his current living arrangements.
The dynamics of royal life are seldom straightforward, and this situation is no exception.
Why King Charles would want to engage in what some view as a petty distraction at this stage of his reign remains a puzzle to Andrew’s supporters.
Many believe that the desire to evict Andrew comes off as “childish and vindictive,” with one insider suggesting that most people wouldn’t really care where Andrew resides.
Adding another layer to this royal drama, Andrew has reportedly resisted moving to Frogmore Cottage, which has been sitting empty since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle vacated it in June 2023.
The couple’s departure left the five-bedroom property without tenants, raising questions about why Andrew wouldn’t consider this alternative.
Instead, palace insiders reveal that Andrew has plans for the future of Royal Lodge.
He intends to pass on the lease to his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, ensuring that the estate remains in the family even after he’s gone.
This move could complicate matters further, as it ties his daughters into the ongoing family feud.