Royal Dispute Intensifies Over Duke of York's Residence in Windsor
Prince Andrew is embroiled in a dispute with King Charles over his current residence at the Royal Lodge in Windsor. The Duke of York, who resides in the £30 million estate with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, does not actually own the property, according to a property expert.
King Charles, 75, is advocating for Andrew to move to the smaller Frogmore Cottage, previously home to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Andrew is resisting the move, hoping to pass the Royal Lodge on to his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, as reported by GB News.
Robin Edwards, a property expert at Curetons Property Finders, explained to GB News why this royal disagreement is likely to continue. Edwards stated, "In August 2003, Prince Andrew was granted a 75-year lease from the Crown Estate, encompassing Royal Lodge, several cottages, a chapel lodge, police accommodation, and 40 hectares of land. It is just a lease agreement though; he does not own the property, and it ultimately remains the property of the Crown Estate."
The Crown Estate, owned by the monarch "in right of the Crown," remains under King Charles's authority. Prince Andrew stepped back from his royal duties after a controversial 2019 Newsnight interview and his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Although he has appeared at recent royal events, such as Christmas at Sandringham and Easter at St George’s Chapel, his ongoing dispute with King Charles could jeopardize his future involvement. According to Palace sources, the King may "reconsider the level of support" he provides Andrew if the Duke refuses to vacate the Royal Lodge for Frogmore Cottage.
Frogmore Cottage, located on the Windsor Estate, was previously occupied by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who were asked to leave the property in 2023 following the release of Harry’s memoir, Spare. Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, also briefly resided at Frogmore. Andrew's primary argument for staying at Royal Lodge is his 75-year lease on the property.
However, the former home of the Queen Mother reportedly requires extensive repairs, estimated to cost £400,000, as it is said to be “crumbling.”
