Gareth Russell, a royal commentator, has stated that King Charles is "frustrated with Prince Andrew" in light of the continuous issues that have been raised about the Duke of York's financial status.
According to Express, this discontent has been a contributing factor in the escalating tensions within the Royal Family.
In November, Prince Andrew was successful in securing his pricey residency at the Royal Lodge, despite the fact that his sources of income were unknown. The question of whether or not he has informed King Charles about his financial position is still to be answered. During his appearance on GB News, Russell revealed his observations, and he suggested that the King's dissatisfaction derives from the lack of information regarding Prince Andrew's financial situation.
According to The News International, Russell has stated that: "There's a great deal of mystery; whether he's told the King or not. Certainly, the King has made it very clear what he wanted to happen."
According to reports, King Charles has suggested that Prince Andrew downgrade to Frogmore Cottage, which was the previous house of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. This suggestion comes in light of the concerns that have been raised. On the other hand, the Duke has decided to continue staying in the Royal Lodge, which has caused some people in royal circles to raise their eyebrows. Russell posited that it will soon become clear whether King Charles has formally sought additional information regarding Prince Andrew's financial dealings. He believed that this would become apparent in the near future.
He added: "But at the minute, I think it's very clear to all of us that the King is quite frustrated with the way this has played out."
Since 2003, when the Queen's Mother passed away the previous year, the Duke of York has been the owner of the lease property for the Royal Lodge, which is comprised of thirty rooms. It is anticipated that the annual security expenditures associated with the property will amount to several million pounds, and the lease is not scheduled to expire until the year 2078.
The fact that Prince Andrew does not receive any public support from the Sovereign Grant is one of the factors that contributes to the complexity of his current financial condition. One of his key sources of income is a pension from the Royal Navy; however, the precise amount of this pension is not published. Furthermore, it is not known how much he may have inherited from the late Queen or from other members of the family.
Through the course of history, Prince Andrew's financial situation has been a subject of inquiry. In 2007, he sold his property in Sunninghill Park, which is located in Ascot, for a price of £15 million. This sale caused a lot of people to raise their heads because the price was three million pounds higher than the asking price. In addition, he sold a ski chalet in Verbier, Switzerland, in the year 2022. The chalet was owned jointly by him and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.
In light of the fact that concerns regarding Prince Andrew's financial security continue to be raised, the dynamics within the Royal Family continue to be tense, and King Charles is attempting to understand the situation better.
Business Times has reached out to the Duke of York for comments.
