Monarch Faces Embarrassing Setback Amid Reports of Private Income from Public Funds
Prince Andrew is celebrating a major win over King Charles as the long-standing row over the Royal Lodge appears to have reached a final decision.
The feud between the brothers intensified after King Charles pressured the Duke of York to move out of the 30-room Royal Lodge and downgrade to Frogmore Cottage, following the monarch’s decision to cut off Andrew’s funding from the Privy Purse.
Many assumed that Andrew would struggle to afford the upkeep of the lavish estate. However, the Duke delivered a surprising blow, revealing an annual income of “more than £3 million from legitimate sources,” allowing him to remain in the grand residence.
A close friend of Andrew shed light on why King Charles ultimately conceded, calling it a “humiliating defeat” for the monarch. The friend told The Daily Beast, “Charles has everything. He is as rich as Croesus. Andrew is 64, and his house is all he has left. It was cruel of the King to try and take it away from him.”
The friend also hinted at a deeper reason for the King’s retreat, citing a recent investigation that exposed significant private income earned by Charles and Prince William from public bodies, including hospitals and charities. The probe, conducted by The Mirror and Channel 4’s Dispatches, revealed that senior royals have been making “millions” from these sources.
The Duchy of Lancaster, managed by King Charles, reportedly receives £11.4 million ($14 million) from an NHS hospital in a 15-year deal for storing electric ambulances. Additionally, the Duchy is set to earn at least £28 million ($34 million) from rent charged for wind farm cables crossing its land.
The revelations have cast a spotlight on the financial operations of the monarchy, forcing Charles to abandon the narrative that the royal family operates on a modest budget, and ultimately to step back from his attempt to evict Andrew from the Royal Lodge.
