A fresh dispute has reportedly erupted between King Charles III and his younger brother, the Duke of York, over the terms of Prince Andrew's relocation from his Windsor home.
Substantial Demands for a New Home
According to new reports, the negotiations for Andrew's move to a property on the King's private Sandringham Estate in Norfolk have hit a snag. Sources indicate that Andrew has presented an extensive list of requirements for his new residence. He is said to be demanding nothing less than a substantial six or seven-bedroom house, complete with a full complement of staff.
This staff is reported to include a cook, gardener, housekeeper, driver, and police security detail. These demands are contributing to a delay in his departure from the 30-room Royal Lodge near Windsor Castle, which may now be pushed back until February.
The High Stakes of Leaving Royal Lodge
The backdrop to this negotiation is Andrew's agreement to voluntarily vacate Royal Lodge, a Grade II listed mansion he held under an "iron-clad" 75-year lease from the Crown Estate. King Charles could not forcibly evict him, so a deal was struck following the monarch's blistering statement in which he stripped Andrew of his royal patronages and military titles.
Biographer Andrew Lownie noted the practicalities, telling the Mirror, "[He] had a very strong lease... this was the only way to get him out." Lownie also pointed out that Andrew had invested £8.5 million into Royal Lodge and had expected to pass the valuable lease to his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, until 2078.
A source quoted in The Royalist newsletter suggested the core of the issue is financial: "Knowing Andrew, this was always going to be about money. Andrew is essentially being bought out of the lease, so he will haggle over every last detail of the deal."
Titles and Ongoing Disgrace
Despite his public fall from grace, linked to his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Andrew is said to still insist that staff address him using his royal titles privately, even though they have been formally removed. A former courtier revealed that for Andrew, the loss of his titles and royal role has been more difficult than the allegations of sexual misconduct themselves.
King Charles has further distanced his brother from royal life by recently removing him from the Order of the Garter and the Royal Victorian Order. Andrew's only remaining title is that of Vice Admiral, a rank from his 22-year Royal Navy career, though there are calls for this to be revoked as well.
As the King continues to streamline the monarchy, the protracted negotiations over Andrew's housing underscore the complex and costly process of managing a royal rift within the private confines of the family estate.
