Duke of York Secures Funding to Retain Royal Lodge Despite King Charles’ Push to Downsize
Prince Andrew has a bold vision for the Royal Lodge, which he hopes will benefit not only his daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, but potentially Prince William as well when he becomes king, according to a source close to the Duke of York.
The insider revealed that Andrew sees his lease on the Royal Lodge as a "valuable asset" he intends to pass on to his daughters. “He was never going to just walk away from the property,” the source said. “This is something he plans to leave for his children, and perhaps in the future, it may even be advantageous for William to have Eugenie or Beatrice nearby.”
Earlier this year, King Charles attempted to pressure Andrew to downsize to Frogmore Cottage, but the Duke reportedly holds a "cast iron lease" on the estate. Despite financial constraints, Andrew has secured independent funding to maintain his residence, pushing back against Charles’ efforts to have him relocate.
Sources close to Andrew expressed relief, telling The Daily Beast they are "thrilled for him," noting the stability of his longstanding lease. “It’s hard to imagine anyone caring about where Andrew lives if Charles’ aides hadn’t made it a focal point,” one insider remarked.
In a candid comment about the situation, a friend of Andrew’s said, “Charles has everything—he’s as rich as Croesus. At 64, this home is one of the few things Andrew has left. Trying to take it felt unnecessarily harsh. Why make it an issue?”
A source echoed this sentiment, telling The Times, “If Andrew can cover his own expenses with legitimate means, there’s no reason for it to be a problem.”
