The royal family is dealing with another difficult moment as the fallout from Andrew’s long-running controversy shows no sign of easing, just as a new row emerges over funding state visits to Windsor.
For months, pressure had been building on the royal household to address questions surrounding Andrew’s links to Jeffrey Epstein. When statements were finally issued, attention quickly shifted to a separate issue that now risks becoming a crisis in its own right.
The President of Nigeria is due to visit Windsor Castle next month, marking the country’s first official visit to the UK in almost 40 years. But the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, the council responsible for the area around the castle, has said it will not fund any further state visits.
The dispute centres on who should pay for the cost of hosting such events. The council claims it spent at least £350,000 on state visits in 2025 and says the money has yet to be reimbursed by central government.
In a statement to the BBC, the council said planning was already under way for the Nigerian president’s visit, but it simply does not have the budget to continue providing full support.
The council added that local taxpayers should not be expected to cover the costs of decisions made by government to host state visits in Windsor.
Lynne Jones, the council’s deputy leader, said discussions with the government are ongoing. However, she warned that without formal reassurance on reimbursement, the authority would only provide what she described as the “basics”.
She stressed that the council is proud to host major events at Windsor Castle and recognises the global appeal of the location. At the same time, she said it cannot accept residents footing the bill for what are ultimately central government occasions.
The issue is particularly sensitive given Windsor Castle’s recent history of hosting high-profile figures, including Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron, and Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
As the royal family continues to navigate the reputational damage linked to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the funding row adds another layer of pressure, raising fresh questions about how future state visits will be handled and who will ultimately be expected to pay.
