Prince Andrew, the disgraced royal, has long lived a life of luxury despite being an outcast with no obvious means of financial support. The mystery of how he funds his lifestyle, including the upkeep of the 30-room Royal Lodge, has come under increasing scrutiny. Even King Charles is said to be unsure about some of the sources of his brother's income.
Andrew's only declared source of income is a navy pension of around £20,000 a year, far from enough to maintain his properties. He acquired the lease to Royal Lodge in 2003 for a one-off payment of £1 million, with a requirement to spend £7.5 million on refurbishment. He pays no rent but must keep the mansion in good condition. Recent reports suggest repairs could cost an estimated £2 million, and he also faces a £3 million annual bill for police security after Charles stopped funding it.
Public records show Andrew received nearly £13 million from the public purse for his royal work between 1978 and 2010. After stepping down as a working royal in 2019, the late Queen and King Charles reportedly gave him an annual allowance of about £1 million from private wealth. However, Charles is said to have stopped this payment last year amid the 'siege of Royal Lodge', as he wants Andrew to move to more modest accommodation.
The secrecy surrounding Andrew's finances has been maintained through traditional royal confidentiality and private dealings with wealthy individuals, often foreign. But the public furore over his alleged abuse of Virginia Giuffre has led to calls for greater transparency. Politicians from both sides have spoken out, with Tory shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick saying, 'It's about time Prince Andrew took himself off to live in private and make his own way in life.'
King Charles has long urged his brother to downsize, but Andrew has resisted. The mystery of how he continues to afford his lavish lifestyle remains unresolved, with questions about the sources of his income and the extent of his financial support from the royal family.
