A growing dispute inside Britain's royal household has intensified as Andrew Windsor continues to resist pressure from King Charles III to vacate Royal Lodge, the 30-room Windsor residence he has occupied for more than two decades. According to multiple palace insiders, Andrew has indicated he does not plan to leave before February 2026 and may rely on lease provisions that allow him to remain legally until late 2026.
Royal sources told reporters that notices instructing Andrew to surrender the property were issued last autumn, but the former Duke of York has shown little interest in complying swiftly. Analysts said he is "kicking his heels," a phrase used in accounts describing how he is slowing the process while continuing to occupy the Crown Estate property under the 75-year lease he signed in 2003.
King Charles, according to insiders, wants the matter resolved discreetly but firmly. The new monarch is said to be frustrated that what he considered a straightforward administrative shift has evolved into another protracted family dispute. Officials acknowledge that Andrew's resistance is covered by the terms of the lease, which permits him to remain until 2026 if he chooses.
Associates of Andrew have argued the delay is logistical rather than defiant. They point to the scale of the move, noting that a 30-room residence accumulated over more than 20 years requires extensive planning. Palace officials said the smaller property designated for him on the Sandringham estate is not yet prepared for full-time occupancy. King Charles is expected to privately finance Andrew's future accommodation, which, unlike Royal Lodge, is not owned by the Crown Estate.
Skeptics, however, believe the logistical explanation masks a more deliberate strategy. One insider said Andrew is "leaning on every technical step available," exploiting procedural requirements to extend his stay. Critics argue he is using practicality as a pretext for refusing to surrender a home that symbolizes his former standing inside the monarchy.
Royal Lodge has long been central to Andrew's identity and stature. Before stepping back from public duties amid scandal, he used the Windsor estate as a base for official duties and private life. Leaving it-sources say-would mark the final stage of his withdrawal from royal public life. Sarah Ferguson is also expected to depart, though she may relocate to a modest separate residence.
The dispute casts a shadow over the royal family's Christmas plans. King Charles typically hosts celebrations at Sandringham, but Andrew is not expected to attend. His daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, face what one source described as a "deeply awkward" dilemma: maintaining their place within the royal fold while supporting their father privately as he resists vacating Royal Lodge.
Royal observers believe Andrew's slow departure is calculated. Remaining in place allows him to avoid a disruptive exit and retain some control over how the story of his removal unfolds. Palace insiders say he is "fully aware" that his lease allows him to lawfully stay until October 2026, after giving 12 months' notice on October 30.
