The Duke of York's life has been reduced to a shadow of its former royal splendour, with insiders describing his current existence as that of a 'virtual prisoner' within the 30-room Royal Lodge in Windsor.
A Palace in Name Only
Prince Andrew's dramatic fall from grace has left him occupying the sprawling property with a skeleton staff and minimal royal responsibilities. Once a prominent working royal with military honours and global diplomatic engagements, he now faces what palace insiders term a 'bare bones' existence.
The dramatic downsizing includes:
- A drastically reduced household staff from approximately 25 to just 5-7 members
- Loss of his cherished military affiliations and royal patronages
- Removal from public duties and official royal events
- Strained relationships within the Royal Family
The Financial Strain
Maintaining the 30-room mansion has become increasingly challenging for the Duke, who reportedly receives financial support from the Queen's private funds. The property requires constant upkeep, with annual running costs estimated to be substantial even with the reduced staff.
'He's essentially living there with a handful of staff, rattling around in this massive house,' revealed a royal source. 'It's a far cry from the life of a working royal he once enjoyed.'
No Return to Public Life
Despite his attempts to maintain some connection to royal affairs, including accompanying the King to church, Buckingham Palace has made it clear there will be no rehabilitation of Prince Andrew's public role. The settlement of his sexual assault case with Virginia Giuffre effectively ended any possibility of returning to frontline royal duties.
The Duke's current situation stands in stark contrast to his former life as a senior working royal, highlighting the severe consequences of his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the subsequent allegations that have plagued him.
