The King has settled the £1.5 million refurbishment bill for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's former Royal Lodge home, after the exiled royal said he could not pay the sum. The property, on the Windsor estate, had been handed back after Andrew faced an £1.8 million repair bill.
Andrew was eligible to receive £302,000 in compensation after being removed from the property by the King before his lease expired. However, he will not receive the money, as an independent firm assessed damage and vital repairs to the estate that the former Duke of York was liable for.
King steps in to settle the bill
Palace sources confirmed the King paid the bill to settle the matter promptly and ensure the Crown Estate, which generates revenue for the nation's public purse, was appropriately reimbursed in line with the Royal Lodge lease terms.
While the bill has been settled, the King's intervention means he has again bailed out his brother, while also providing him a monthly allowance to live on. On this week's episode of the Mirror's Pod Save the King YouTube show, royal editor Russell Myers said the condition in which Andrew left the home showed a complete 'lack of respect' for the monarch, and questioned why the King would again help Andrew financially.
Royal commentators criticise Andrew's behaviour
Russell 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?'
"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 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."
Russell added that Andrew's treatment of Royal Lodge tracks with his alleged behaviour, with former staffers claiming he has been difficult and rude to work with. He explained: "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'."
Questions over whether Andrew will change
While the King was quick to bail Andrew out of his seven-figure bill, Jennifer added that while the former prince is still receiving extensive financial help from his older brother, it is unlikely his behaviour will change.
"Because the thing is, is he ever going to learn?" Jennifer said. "If the King's just going to bail him out time after time after time, you know, is he going to do anything for himself?"
Russell agreed, adding: "The King is treating Andrew like a child."
