A 'Free' House Isn't Enough — Andrew Reacted Badly to His New Home, Sources Say
What was meant to resolve his housing issue appears to have backfired.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has now seen the property intended to be his new home, and insiders say the reaction was immediate. The house, described as modest, reportedly fell far short of what he expected. The former Duke of York was reportedly left extremely unhappy after finally viewing the property earmarked as his new home, a residence that, until recently, had been described as a no-cost solution to his housing problem.
Sources told royal commentator Rob Shuter that Mountbatten-Windsor’s reaction was immediate. Shuter wrote in his Substack that rather than relief, the walkthrough reportedly prompted visible disappointment. “The moment he walked in, his face dropped,” one insider said, adding, “He thought it was beneath him. Too small, too isolated — he actually called it the middle of nowhere.”
The visit, which was meant to settle lingering questions about Mountbatten-Windsor’s future living arrangements, appears to have done the opposite. Instead of accepting the move quietly, insiders say the former Prince reacted angrily. Rather than viewing the property as a necessary downgrade following years of controversy, Mountbatten-Windsor is said to be pushing back hard. According to another source, he has already begun outlining a list of expectations that go far beyond simply moving in. “He wants a golf course, stables, shooting rights — the works. He’s talking about gutting the bathrooms, redoing the kitchen, rebuilding servant quarters, and upgrading every inch," the insider claimed.
Those demands have raised eyebrows, particularly given Mountbatten-Windsor’s current standing within the family. Once a senior working royal, he has since been stripped of his titles and largely cut off from public duties. The expectation, insiders say, was that the new home would represent a quieter and far more modest chapter, which the disgraced prince would be accepting of.
Instead, the situation has reportedly reignited tensions between Mountbatten-Windsor and the King. Palace sources claim Mountbatten-Windsor assumes his brother will absorb the costs associated with the extensive renovations he wants, and the sense of entitlement is not surprising. “Andrew fully expects his brother to pay,” a courtier said. “Renovations, security, a fleet of cars with drivers — even a London flat on the side.”
The sense of entitlement, insiders suggest, has not gone unnoticed. While Charles has worked to streamline the monarchy and reduce public criticism of royal privilege, his brother's reaction has complicated those efforts. Adding another layer to the situation, Shuter reports that Mountbatten-Windsor may be quietly using his dissatisfaction as leverage. According to insiders, the former Duke has floated the idea of relocating abroad, possibly to the Middle East, should his demands not be met.
Royal author Andrew Lownie, speaking to Page Six, had earlier said he understands that Bahrain is a likely destination for the disgraced Duke. “Certainly, he is likely to go out there. He’s going (to) be away from press scrutiny…and it’ll be nice and sunny," he said. The island nation, located in the Persian Gulf, would not be unfamiliar territory for disgraced royals. Conclusively, the latest episode suggests that old habits remain firmly in place. A free home, it seems, was never going to be enough.
