Inside the Royal Family’s Strategy to Handle Prince Andrew’s Residence Dispute and the Mysterious Media Alert That Sparked Chaos
The ongoing controversy surrounding Prince Andrew’s residence at Royal Lodge has taken another unexpected turn. Ever since he was stripped of his royal titles and honours through a Buckingham Palace statement, pressure has been mounting for him to vacate the sprawling Windsor home he shares with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.
Reports suggest that Prince William has been quietly leading the charge to have Andrew moved out, with King Charles backing his son’s decision. While the King was on a historic trip to the Vatican with Queen Camilla — marking the first time in 500 years that leaders of the Church of England and the Catholic Church prayed together — activity was unfolding back at the Palace that caught the media’s attention.
The ‘Passing Traffic’ Tip That Set Reporters in Motion
On Thursday, October 23, at around 8 p.m., several senior journalists received a cryptic message:
“We may be expecting news from the Windsor estate later this evening where TV crews have been told to expect ‘passing traffic.’”
The vague alert sent news outlets into overdrive. Reporters rushed to Windsor, and even the BBC dispatched a helicopter. But just as anticipation reached its peak, everything was abruptly called off.
BBC journalist Emily Maitlis later posted, “Crews have now been pulled and stood down. Very confusing.” The sudden reversal only deepened the mystery surrounding what Buckingham Palace had planned that night.
What Was Supposed to Happen
Days later, Emily shed light on what really went on behind the scenes. According to her, King Charles — fresh from his meeting with the Pope — was meant to make a visible stop at Royal Lodge, symbolically confronting his brother over the ongoing residence issue.
“There wasn’t going to be any footage of the conversation or the King stepping out of the car,” Emily explained. “But there was supposed to be that visual moment of his car heading toward Royal Lodge.”
However, once the Palace realised helicopters were circling and media crews were setting up in droves, nerves took over. “They got very nervous,” she said. “They thought, ‘This has all got too big, it’s out of control,’ and cancelled the whole thing.”
Buckingham Palace in Damage Control
One journalist reportedly said they were “stuck in a storm for five hours” after being told to get to Windsor, only for the Palace to “chicken out” once broadcasters deployed resources.
Palace insiders, according to Emily, were frustrated with the media’s reaction, arguing that the press “created the circus” that forced their hand. As one source put it, “The circus was all of their own making.”
The confusion over the ‘passing traffic’ tip has only added to the intrigue surrounding Prince Andrew’s uncertain future at Royal Lodge — and raised new questions about just how far Buckingham Palace is willing to go to manage both public perception and internal family tensions.
