Prince Andrew finds himself at a crossroads, struggling to accept the reality of his eviction from the Royal Lodge as King Charles III intensifies pressure for the Duke of York to vacate the residence. The tension between the two brothers has escalated as Andrew resists moving from the opulent estate, despite being financially unable to maintain the property.
In 2023, both Prince Andrew and Prince Harry were instructed to leave their royal residences, but while Harry relocated, Andrew has yet to secure a new address. Sources close to the matter reveal that Andrew is reluctant to acknowledge the inevitable, despite it being "the most sensible course of action."
A source familiar with the situation told the press, "Andrew is taking longer than desirable to recognize the reality of the situation, even though relocating is clearly the most sensible course of action." Another source added, "It can be done tidily or untidily. It can be done with grace and dignity or it can be forced upon him. It's all rather sad."
The Duke of York was stripped of his HRH status in 2022, two years after resigning from his royal duties due to allegations of sexual assault, which he has consistently denied. Since stepping down, Andrew has lost his royal salary, raising questions about his ability to afford the upkeep of the sprawling Royal Lodge without a steady income.
Royal biographer Hugo Vickers suggested that Andrew's reluctance to move stems from a fear that leaving the Royal Lodge would be seen as an admission of guilt in the eyes of the public. "What I think he feels is that if he moves out of Royal Lodge, it's somehow publicly accepting guilt for which he has not been proved," Vickers noted. "Nevertheless, it's an expensive lifestyle."
The financial burden of maintaining the Royal Lodge has become increasingly apparent. Meghan Markle's former friend, Lizzy Cundy, remarked that Andrew has allowed the property to deteriorate, with paint chipping off the exterior and the estate falling into disrepair. "He is letting this place - it has 30-odd bedrooms - and he is letting it go to ruin," Cundy told GB News.
Adding to the pressure on Andrew, a new dramatization titled A Very Royal Scandal is set to air on Amazon Prime, portraying the Duke of York as pompous, deluded, and deeply unpleasant. The series, which follows the infamous Newsnight interview and Andrew's subsequent fall from grace, has sparked renewed scrutiny of his behavior and further strained his relationship with King Charles.
In the series, Andrew is depicted as a man out of touch with reality, arrogantly dismissing those around him while clinging to his privileges. The show even dramatizes a scene in which Andrew allegedly sought financial help from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to clear his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson's debts, a detail that, while fictionalized, underscores the deep public mistrust surrounding the Duke.
The portrayal of Andrew in A Very Royal Scandal only adds to the growing sentiment within the royal family and the public that the Duke must step down from his residence at Royal Lodge. King Charles, who has already cut Andrew's security detail and refused to renew the contract for his ten-strong security team, is adamant that Andrew must either pay his way or move to the more modest Frogmore Cottage, previously occupied by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
The King's frustration with his brother is palpable. As one of Charles's friends put it, "It's all rather sad. But 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 realize that he has become a prisoner of his own pride."
If Andrew continues to resist, it's likely that the saga will end in a forced eviction, marking a further decline in his standing within the royal family. As the battle over Royal Lodge drags on, it serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of pride and the unyielding pressures that come with being a member of the royal family.
