Prince Andrew refuses to move out of home ‘because his name is on the lease’

Prince Andrew has no intention of leaving his Royal Lodge home because he still has 80 to 90 years left on the lease, according to reports.

King Charles, 74, is understood to have asked his younger brother to move out of the 30-room Windsor mansion, where he has lived for the past 20 years.

The property has reportedly been earmarked for the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children.

But a royal source has denied Andrew, 63, was preparing to quit the 98-acre property, and instead will see out the lease he signed in 2003.

The palace insider told The Times: “The lease is in the duke’s name so no one can take that away from him”.

“It has never been suggested that it could be taken away from him. It’s a long lease with 80 to 90 years left on it.

“This is a lease between him and the Crown Estate. That’s not a matter for the King. It’s a matter for the chancellor of the exchequer. The only way you could get him to move out would be through an arrangement — he would have to agree.”

It follows reports the King plans to slash a £250,000 annual grant his brother got from the Queen. King Charles has control of the £652million Privy Purse.

Andrew, who relies on the allowance since he left front-line royal duties in 2019, moved into the Grade II-listed house in Windsor Great Park following the death of the Queen Mother in 2002.

The lease agreement required Andrew to carry out, at his own expense, refurbishments estimated at £7.5million.

It also provided for a premium payment of £1million to the Crown Estate.

Under the terms of the agreement, approved by the National Audit Office, the Duke may not benefit financially from any increase in the value of the property as the freehold belongs to the Crown Estate.