Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, finds himself in a precarious situation as he faces mounting pressure from the Crown Estate to complete necessary renovations to his longtime residence, Royal Lodge.
The Duke, who has called the sprawling estate home for over two decades, now risks eviction if he cannot demonstrate by the end of the year that he has the financial means to refurbish the historic property.
Royal Lodge, a Grade II listed mansion in Windsor Great Park valued at approximately £30 million, has long been the Duke’s residence.
However, under the terms of the Crown Estate lease agreement, the Duke is responsible for the upkeep and repair of the property.
This includes ensuring that the residence remains in good condition and that any necessary refurbishments are carried out to preserve the estate’s historic character and its surrounding royal park and forest.
The situation has become particularly dire for Prince Andrew following significant changes in his financial arrangements, which have left him scrambling to meet the Crown Estate’s demands.
According to insiders, King Charles recently withdrew all private financial support for his younger brother, further compounding the Duke’s already precarious financial situation.
This decision included cutting off the funding for Prince Andrew’s 10-man security team, which is set to leave by the end of the month.
A source told Express.co.uk, “Andrew has been asked to prove that he has the financial resources in place to conduct the necessary repairs to Royal Lodge.If he can’t demonstrate this by the year’s end, formal discussions will commence with the Crown Estate on how to proceed.”
The Crown Estate, which manages the Royal Lodge, enforces strict regulations regarding the upkeep of properties leased to members of the Royal Family.
The lease that allows Prince Andrew to remain in residence until 2078 also includes clauses that mandate regular repairs and maintenance.
The current state of disrepair at Royal Lodge—evident in the peeling paint and moss-covered exterior—has raised concerns that the Duke has failed to fulfill these obligations.
Royal Lodge, originally built in the 17th century and significantly expanded in the early 19th century, is a property steeped in royal history.
Once the residence of the Queen Mother, the 30-room mansion sits on 98 acres of land in Windsor Great Park and has been Prince Andrew’s home since the early 2000s.
However, the property is now showing signs of neglect, with sources reporting that escalating repair costs have exceeded £2 million.
The Crown Estate’s strict regulations dictate that the Duke must cover the costs of any repairs or refurbishment to maintain the property’s condition.
While these terms were manageable during Prince Andrew’s time as a senior working royal, his financial situation has deteriorated significantly since stepping down from public duties in 2019, following the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
The loss of royal income, coupled with the withdrawal of private financial support from King Charles, has left the Duke with limited options for covering the escalating costs of restoring Royal Lodge.
This situation marks the closest Prince Andrew has come to eviction from the property since stepping down as a working royal.
While eviction is not yet certain, it is clear that the Duke is in a race against time to secure the necessary funds to meet the Crown Estate’s demands.
The Duke’s relationship with his older brother, King Charles, has reportedly been strained since Charles ascended the throne.
The King is said to be keen on streamlining the monarchy and ensuring that public and private funds are not used to support non-working royals.
This shift in financial support has left Prince Andrew feeling “in a spin,” according to insiders.
With no working royal duties to rely on for income, Prince Andrew’s financial independence has come into question.
There has been speculation that the Duke may need to seek alternative sources of income, but with his options limited and his public image still tainted, it remains unclear how he will secure the funds necessary to complete the repairs.
Royal Lodge holds significant personal value for Prince Andrew, making the prospect of eviction all the more distressing.
The Duke has lived at the residence since the early 2000s, and it has been the family home he shared with his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, who still resides there with him.
The pair have maintained a close friendship since their divorce, and the residence has been a stable family base for their two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, both of whom spent much of their childhood at the estate.
Losing Royal Lodge would not only be a significant personal blow to Prince Andrew but would also represent a broader shift in his place within the Royal Family.
The Duke, once a prominent figure in royal life, has faced increasing isolation in recent years, both from the public and within the royal institution itself.
As the end-of-year deadline looms, Prince Andrew finds himself in an urgent race to secure £2 million to fund the necessary renovations.
Failure to do so could result in the Crown Estate enforcing the lease agreement and ultimately terminating his tenancy at Royal Lodge.
If evicted, the Duke would likely need to find alternative accommodation, though it remains unclear where he would go. With no working royal duties and limited financial resources, Prince Andrew’s future remains uncertain.
This unfolding situation not only highlights the financial difficulties faced by the Duke of York but also underscores the changes within the Royal Family under King Charles’ reign.
With the Crown Estate enforcing its regulations more strictly and the King’s focus on streamlining the monarchy, Prince Andrew’s place within royal life seems more tenuous than ever before.
