Prince Andrew was seen out riding in the grounds of Windsor Castle today for the first time since reports suggested King Charles is turning up the pressure on his younger brother to move out of the Royal Lodge after repeated requests
The disgraced Duke of York was seen looking tense while out on a horse ride near his Windsor home earlier today. Wearing a burgundy shirt, he was joined by a companion as they exercised their horses just days after reports the monarch is urging his disgraced brother once again to leave his 30-room Royal Lodge home.
The Duke of York, 64, is understood to have a long lease on the Royal Lodge. But the King is ultimately responsible for all of the royal household’s finances, and so could choose to restrict funds from him – meaning he could soon struggle to meet the extortionate annual upkeep costs of the Grade II-listed property.
King Charles also currently funds Andrew’s security bill, which costs £3million a year. Andrew’s persistent refusal to take up the new property after previous requests is reported to have frustrated Charles.
A royal source told The Times: “The King’s kindness is not without limit and there is a very good option for Andrew to move into Frogmore Cottage, recently vacated by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, which also has the benefit of being within the Windsor Castle security cordon hence reducing the need for alternative round-the-clock security for Royal Lodge.” The source added that Andrew is “taking longer than desirable” to “recognise the reality of the situation”.
But Andrew so far shows no sign of budging. One acquaintance of the Duke of York told the newspaper that he is likely to “dig in” if the stand-off continues and that he had already enjoyed a “stay of execution” in light of Sarah Ferguson and the King’s own recent illnesses.
Royal Lodge, once home to the Queen Mother, is a 19th-century Grade II-listed property with a pool and 90 acres of land. Andrew signed a 75-year lease for the house back in 2003 and lives there with his ex-wife Fergie, but reports began to circulate in early 2023 that Charles was keen for his brother to move out and move into Frogmore Cottage, which has been recently renovated.
Meanwhile, photos have also emerged of the state of the property, capturing its tired and crumbling walls. Moss is seen on the structure and the paint is peeling away. Scaffolding has been seen at the front of the property, where a skip full of rubble was also spotted.
