Related Articles
Royal Lodge has been the home of Prince Andrew since 2003, when he reportedly signed a 75-year lease for the property. Since then, he has reportedly spent around £7.5 million renovating the property and rents it for £250 a week. He currently lives there with his ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, despite the couple divorcing in 1996.
In recent months, rumours have been circulating that King Charles III may ask his brother to vacate the 30-room home as part of plans to scale down the monarchy. The Times alleged earlier this year that Andrew had ‘told friends’ that he may have to move out of Royal Lodge by September (although it has now reportedly been accepted that the timetable is not realistic).
However, in May, the Daily Mail alleged that the King would not force his brother to leave the property, as it could cost the Crown Estate if they had to reimburse him in order to terminate his 75-year lease early. It also claimed that the monarch currently aids the Duke of York with the smooth running of his daily life, from letting occasional meals be sent to the Lodge from the Windsor Castle kitchens (a practice reportedly begun under the late Queen Elizabeth II), to allowing Castle staff to help Andrew with his garden and household repairs.
Prior to this, some papers speculated that King Charles III was planning to cut Prince Andrew’s financial support, which was reportedly around £249,000 a year during the reign of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Cutting his allowance would make it difficult for him to afford to continue to live at the Lodge, which is said to have an estimated value of £30 million if put up for sale in the open market. A source previously told the 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.’ The mansion, situated three miles away from Windsor Castle, was home to the Queen Mother until 2002.
Source link
