Friends Say He Wishes He Had Acted Sooner Amid Tensions with King Charles
Prince Andrew reportedly regrets not resolving the ongoing dispute over his residence at Royal Lodge earlier, according to friends close to the Duke of York. The conflict, which centres on King Charles's request for Andrew to vacate the £30 million mansion in Windsor, has been ongoing for over a year, with the Duke refusing to move.
It is well known that Prince Andrew was a favourite of the late Queen, and friends suggest he now wishes he had secured a property in his own name while Queen Elizabeth was still alive. Royal expert Richard Kay highlighted that Andrew's reluctance to move has intensified under King Charles’s reign, where he may not receive the same leniency he enjoyed from his mother.
Andrew has informed King Charles that he intends to remain in the 31-room Royal Lodge for the full 55 years of the lease he signed two decades ago, despite suggestions to relocate to the nearby Frogmore Cottage, recently vacated by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The Duke has lived at the Windsor estate property for over 20 years with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, under a 75-year lease.
In an effort to expedite Andrew's departure, King Charles has reportedly decided to remove Andrew’s private security team, which has been funded by the King since Andrew’s official police protection was withdrawn in 2022. The security team’s contract is expected to end in the autumn, which may further pressure Andrew to leave the property.
A Palace insider remarked, “It isn’t a secret that the King wants him out,” adding that the decision to end Andrew's security detail may signal an impending resolution to the dispute. The insider speculated that without security, Andrew may have no choice but to leave the Royal Lodge by the end of October.
