Prince Andrew has reportedly secured a £3 million annual subsidy from an anonymous benefactor, a development that seems to have temporarily resolved the protracted dispute over his continued residence at Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park. However, doubts about the arrangement's sustainability and the benefactor's motivations cast uncertainty over the Duke's long-term position.
The Duke of York was offered the smaller 5,089-square-foot Frogmore Cottage in March 2023 as a replacement for his lease on the sprawling thirty-room Royal Lodge. Despite King Charles discontinuing Andrew's £1 million annual living allowance and halting payments for his private security, the Duke has refused to leave Royal Lodge.
The unexpected financial subsidy has been described as a "killer blow" in the ongoing disagreement, enabling Andrew to remain at the Royal Lodge. Yet royal commentator Bronte Coy expressed skepticism about the arrangement, telling Virgin Radio, "They've said that the source is legitimate, but I don't know who this person is, why they're doing this, or how long the payments will last. That's the big question."
Coy further warned that while this financial relief might solve Andrew's immediate issues, the victory could be fleeting. "I'd say he's won the battle, but has he won the war long-term? That depends on whether this benefactor remains committed," she noted.
Prince Andrew's finances have long been a subject of public scrutiny. While he is believed to have inherited substantial sums from his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, and his grandmother, the Queen Mother, his expenses have been significant. One of his largest known costs was the settlement of a civil sexual assault lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre in the U.S. Andrew has consistently denied her allegations, but the settlement was reportedly between £7.5 million and £12 million.
As a "working royal," Andrew previously received an estimated £250,000 annually, which included operational expenses for his official duties. However, this income ceased following his infamous 2019 Newsnight interview, where he attempted to explain his ties to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The interview triggered widespread backlash and led to Andrew stepping back from public duties.
The Duke's financial history has also raised eyebrows over questionable transactions. In 2017, a £1.5 million personal loan linked to a wealthy Conservative donor was reportedly paid off, though the details of this arrangement remain unclear. Additionally, Andrew sold Sunninghill Park-his wedding gift from Queen Elizabeth II-to Kazakh billionaire Timor Kulibayev for £15 million, £3 million above the asking price, via an offshore trust in the British Virgin Islands.
Aside from the newly reported subsidy, Andrew's only other known income is his annual armed forces pension, estimated to be approximately £20,000.
Coy pointed out that the subsidy might not be a long-term solution. "Are they going to pay for two years and then we're still having this conversation down the road?" she questioned.
Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, has also faced criticism regarding their finances. She admitted to accepting £15,000 from Epstein to settle a personal debt, describing it as a "gigantic error of judgment."
