A standoff inside the British royal household has escalated into an unusually public clash between King Charles III and his younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, after the former prince signaled he will not vacate the 30-room Royal Lodge unless the palace meets what sources describe as a compensation package worth roughly $99 million. The impasse centers on the future of one of the Windsor estate's most prominent residences and highlights the financial and political pressures surrounding the King's effort to streamline the monarchy.
Andrew, 65, has resisted Buckingham Palace's request that he leave the Royal Lodge-his home since 2004-and relocate to a smaller property on the royal family's Sandringham estate in Norfolk. A palace source told royal journalist Rob Shuter that the former Duke of York "is not just refusing to leave Royal Lodge, he's practically super-glueing himself to the furniture," underscoring the degree of resistance the monarch is facing.
The King, 77, has prioritized reducing the Crown's real estate footprint and cutting operating costs, particularly for non-working royals. Andrew, who lost his military affiliations and royal duties after scrutiny surrounding his association with Jeffrey Epstein, has been viewed as central to that reform agenda. But the former prince has reportedly countered with demands for a replacement residence that mirrors the scale and staffing of his current estate.
One insider told Shuter that Andrew wants "a giant six or seven-bedroom house" on the Sandringham grounds and expects the same level of support he receives at the Royal Lodge. "And not just a house - he wants the whole package," the source said. "A cook, a gardener, a housekeeper, a driver... basically a full-time staff to keep his life running exactly the way it runs at Royal Lodge. And of course, police protection, too."
The cost of maintaining that arrangement over Andrew's lifetime-estimated at £78 million ($99 million)-has become a focal point in negotiations. Shuter reported that the former prince is "staying put" because "the deal isn't done" and "negotiations are crawling in." The stalemate threatens to delay the King's broader property plans, including refurbishing the Royal Lodge for potential use by the Prince of Wales.
Andrew's position is reinforced by a 75-year lease he signed in 2003, one year before moving into the residence. Under its terms, the monarchy cannot simply evict him without navigating a lengthy and costly legal battle, giving the former prince substantial leverage despite his diminished public role. Palace officials privately acknowledge the lease complicates efforts to modernize Crown Estates.
Inside the Royal Lodge, aides describe a world frozen in time. According to OK! magazine, one insider said "nothing has changed" in how Andrew conducts himself. The former prince reportedly insists the staff continue addressing him as "Your Royal Highness," with a source saying, "He is saying the ruling to strip him of his titles doesn't apply inside his own walls." Aides portray him as "living in a bubble" and "utterly deluded about his status."
His daily routine, they say, has narrowed significantly. One aide described his lifestyle as: "It's golf in the morning, golf on the TV in the afternoon, and conversations about nothing but golf. That's basically his whole world now." Andrew continues to share the residence with Sarah Ferguson, 66, who moved into the home with their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, in 2008. Their continued presence adds another layer of complexity to the King's efforts to reassign the property.
