King Charles III has reportedly severed financial support and private security funding for his younger brother, Prince Andrew, marking a significant shift in royal family dynamics. According to Robert Hardman's newly updated book Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story, the monarch instructed the Keeper of the Privy Purse to halt Prince Andrew's annual allowance of £1 million (approximately $1.3 million) and to end his private security funding, which was previously covered by King Charles himself. Hardman's biography, which includes fresh chapters detailing the King's relationships with family members, is set for release on November 7.
The decision reflects an apparent break between the King and Prince Andrew, who had previously relied on his brother's financial support despite his exit from public duties. "The duke is no longer a financial burden on the King," a source confirmed, according to The Daily Mail. This reduction in support follows years of controversy surrounding Prince Andrew, including his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the subsequent fallout from a civil lawsuit, which led him to step back from his royal roles and lose his police security detail in 2022.
Despite losing his financial backing, Prince Andrew continues to reside at the Royal Lodge in Windsor, a 30-room property he has occupied since 2003. Reports indicate that the Duke of York has spent over $9 million on renovations to the residence, which he leases from the Crown Estate for an annual rent of around $337,000. According to Hardman, Andrew rejected a proposal to relocate to Frogmore Cottage, a smaller residence previously occupied by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The King's insistence on the move, reportedly an effort to streamline royal finances, was met with resistance, prompting a response from Andrew that only deepened family tensions.
Sources claim the King's patience with his brother's resistance to downsizing finally wore thin in late summer. In a decisive move, King Charles informed his brother that his financial support would cease if he continued to resist the move to Frogmore. Hardman writes that when faced with the ultimatum, Prince Andrew "was going to stay put at Royal Lodge anyway," which led Charles to sever his allowance. "In the late summer of this year, that patience ran out," Hardman noted in the excerpt published by The Daily Mail.
The newly updated book also reveals that Prince Andrew's decision to remain at the Royal Lodge could impose significant financial obligations, as he is now responsible for the costs associated with the property, including private security, which had previously been a "substantial seven-figure sum" funded by the King. Hardman's account describes this as a "mixed blessing" for the Duke, as he faces mounting expenses and limited income options. Insiders report that the Duke has asserted he can sustain himself through "other sources of income" from international trade contacts, though it remains uncertain whether these funds will cover the hefty costs associated with maintaining Royal Lodge.
The tension surrounding the Royal Lodge is not merely financial but carries deeper implications for family dynamics within the monarchy. Hardman's book underscores how the King's decisive action has "soured family relationships yet further," according to unnamed sources. While Queen Elizabeth had reportedly shown a reluctance to force her second son from his royal residence, King Charles has adopted a more pragmatic approach. Hardman claims that the late Queen might have "forced him to leave his family home and downsize" had she lived another year. Close friends of the family suggest that Charles's actions may stem from a long-standing desire to address what they term the "Andrew issue."
Complicating matters, Prince Andrew's security costs at Royal Lodge are substantial due to its location outside Windsor's high-security perimeter. Reports indicate that in August, King Charles opted not to renew the private security contract protecting Andrew's residence, adding another layer of financial responsibility for the Duke. In refusing the King's offer to relocate to Frogmore Cottage, Andrew has also foregone the security benefits of the Windsor Castle "ring of steel," which protects Frogmore as a part of the estate's central facilities.
The end of King Charles's financial support also highlights the challenges facing the British monarchy in balancing familial loyalty with public scrutiny. The King's actions have been interpreted as an attempt to distance the monarchy from the scandals surrounding Prince Andrew, and they reflect broader efforts to reduce royal expenditures. The decision not to fund Andrew's security reportedly aligns with the monarchy's shift toward streamlining royal finances and reinforcing the message of accountability for its members.
Meanwhile, Hardman's updated biography provides further insights into ongoing strains between King Charles and other family members, including Prince Harry. Sources close to the King have suggested that legal disputes between Prince Harry and the British government over security funding have caused a rift. The King is reportedly concerned that re-establishing relations with Harry could entangle him in legal issues. "If he can find the money, then that is up to him, but if not, he will find that the King does not have unlimited patience," a royal insider remarked regarding Prince Andrew's financial predicament.
Although the immediate financial issue with Andrew appears resolved, royal insiders caution that the episode has damaged family bonds. The outcome, according to one source close to the Duke, is a "temporary resolution" that leaves Andrew's position within the royal family uncertain. Family associates describe his stance as one of "obstinacy" that has contributed to ongoing friction within the monarchy, a sentiment echoed by Hardman, who notes that Charles's decision marks a "new low" in relations between the brothers.
