Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, has reportedly become a "prisoner of his own pride" as he refuses to leave his home, the Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, despite King Charles' ultimatum to cut financial support if he doesn't comply. According to a friend of the King, the 64-year-old disgraced royal now spends his days "watching television in a darkened room," painting a picture of an increasingly isolated and tragic figure.
The Duke of York had previously struck a deal with the monarch to remain at the Royal Lodge, but the situation has since changed, with the King no longer willing to continue funding his brother's lifestyle at the sprawling 30-room mansion. A source close to the royal family told The Times that Andrew is taking "longer than desirable to recognise the reality of the situation."
A friend of King Charles warned, "As things stand, life at Royal Lodge is set to become increasingly cold and uncomfortable for the duke. The only question now is when he will realise that he has become a prisoner of his own pride - and that handing back the keys will afford him far greater comfort, and the continued support of his family."
Andrew, who was forced to step down from royal duties amid the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, shares the Royal Lodge with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson. The property, which was the Windsor residence of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother from 1952 until her death in 2002, officially became Andrew's home in 2004. However, the Duke's fall from grace has left him with few options and dwindling public support.
The latest YouGov opinion poll revealed Prince Andrew to be the least popular member of the royal family by a significant margin, with only 9 percent of people expressing a favorable view of him, while 76 percent said they disliked him.
King Charles has previously suggested that his brother should move to nearby Frogmore Cottage, the former home of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The monarch's wish for Andrew to downsize coincided with reports that he had cut the Duke's £250,000 annual allowance, which had been previously provided by the late Queen Elizabeth, according to The Sun US.
The source close to the royal family added, "If he doesn't agree to move to a property better suited to his needs, then the King may have to reconsider the levels of support he is willing to provide."
The standoff between Prince Andrew and King Charles has raised questions about the future of the Royal Lodge and the Duke's role within the royal family. The property reportedly requires repair works costing around £2 million, and without his allowance, Andrew is said to be unable to afford the upkeep of the 98-acre estate.
Despite the mounting pressure, sources told the Daily Mail in January that "Andrew is going nowhere. He has a cast iron lease." The Duke's defiance has led to concerns about the potential impact on his relationship with the King and the rest of the royal family.
As the situation continues to unfold, the world watches to see whether Prince Andrew will ultimately relinquish his grip on the Royal Lodge and accept the King's offer to move to a more suitable property, or if he will continue to resist, risking further isolation and the loss of support from his family.
