King Charles has been accused of treating Prince Andrew "like a child" after paying his £1.5 million refurbishment bill at Royal Lodge, his former Windsor home. The intervention came after the disgraced former prince claimed he could not afford the hefty amount.
It was previously announced that Andrew was eligible for £302,000 in compensation because, under the terms of his lease, he surrendered it within the first 25 years. Palace sources recently confirmed that the King stepped in and paid the £1.5 million bill for his younger brother.
Criticism from royal editors
Speaking on the latest episode of the Mirror's Pod Save the King YouTube show, royal editor Russell Myers said the condition in which Andrew left the home shows a complete "lack of respect" for the monarch. He said: "It's a total lack of respect. Really, it is. Because if you're supposed to be responsible for it, but you just think, 'How disrespectful can some people be?'"
Myers added: "You've got a member of the Royal Family living in a residence that isn't his own, he doesn't get to pass it down, it's part of the Crown Estate, and yet a £1.8m repair bill… Why on earth has the King done this?"
The Mirror's deputy royal editor, Jennifer Newton, also agreed, saying: "Does this not just smack of entitlement yet again? He thinks he can live in that house, do what he wants, move out, and someone else is going to clean up the mess, literally and financially, for him."
Allegations of staff treatment
Mr Myers added that Andrew's alleged treatment of staff lines up with the latest news, saying: "Absolutely. And this is exactly the sort of person that Andrew is. Speaking unkindly to members of staff, you know, there's been allegations of sort of having fisticuffs with members of the royal staff as well, arguments with them, speaking down to them. I mean, it literally is just tossing back the keys and saying, 'You sort it out'."
After Jennifer added that the King could bail him out time and time again, Mr Myers added: "The King is treating Andrew like a child."
Andrew's current situation
The Daily Mail recently reported that Andrew was receiving "fan mail" at his current home on the Sandringham estate. It was reported that it was opened by his part-time secretary, who replies with formal acknowledgements to well-wishers. The letters, which are thought to have been sent to Marsh Farm since early April, are a rare source of support for the disgraced royal.
Andrew also recently won a High Court battle after police admitted the search warrants that led to raids on his royal homes were unlawful. The former duke, who vehemently denies any wrongdoing, has not been charged with any offence. He has also seen his reputation decline over his friendship with Epstein, who died in 2019. Andrew publicly spoke about this during his disastrous 2019 interview with Newsnight.
Andrew's relationship with his brother, King Charles, was thought to be nonexistent, but the two are now said to be back in touch.
