In a move that signals a final and definitive break, King Charles III has severed Prince Andrew's last remaining official tie to the monarchy. The Duke of York has been formally evicted from his Buckingham Palace office, a space he had occupied for decades, as the King continues to distance The Firm from his scandal-plagued brother.
The eviction is the latest in a series of humiliating blows for Andrew, who was stripped of his military affiliations and royal patronages in early 2022 following the fallout from his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and a subsequent civil sexual assault case.
The End of an Era at the Palace
For over thirty years, Prince Andrew maintained a private office within the iconic royal residence. This base of operations served as the nerve centre for his public duties and royal engagements. Its closure, ordered directly by the King, is the most potent symbol yet of his complete removal from the inner workings of the institution.
Royal aides were reportedly tasked with clearing out the office, removing all personal belongings and official papers. The space is now expected to be reassigned, effectively erasing Andrew's formal presence from the working palace.
A Looming Battle Over Royal Lodge
The loss of his office intensifies the focus on Andrew's primary residence, the luxurious 30-room Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park. He currently holds a long-term lease on the property from the Crown Estate and is said to be digging in his heels, despite pressure from the King to downsize to the considerably smaller Frogmore Cottage.
It is believed that Andrew is resistant to move, not only due to the scale of the property but also because of the significant personal investment he and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, have poured into its upkeep.
A King's Decisive Action
This decisive action by King Charles underscores his determination to modernise the monarchy and protect its reputation above all else. The King's strategy appears to be one of ruthless prioritisation, focusing the 'slimmed-down' monarchy on a core group of working royals whose reputations are beyond reproach.
By cutting Andrew's final link to the institution's administrative heart, Charles has made it unequivocally clear: there is no way back for the Duke of York. His status is now entirely that of a private individual, albeit one with a famous name and a controversial past, leaving his future role within the family more uncertain than ever.
