King Charles's ‘Main Priority’ Revealed as He Ties Up ‘Loose Ends’ After Andrew Scandal
Unfinished business has never sat well with the monarchy, especially when it risks smudging the Crown’s image. And few loose ends have proved as damaging as Prince Andrew’s long shadow, cast by his past ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. King Charles, it seems, isn’t one for passing 'the Andrew issue' onto his son, which he himself received from the late Queen. His latest moves, insiders say, are part of a clear effort to close the chapter for good and to make sure Prince William's reign isn't marred by it.
Royal author Phil Dampier, as per The Mirror, shared that Charles is eager to resolve the Andrew situation before it shadows the next generation. “I think the main priority will have been to try to clear this up once and for all, and draw a line under it before William becomes King, so that he doesn’t have to deal with it.” He added, “They don’t like loose ends.”
That approach is what is likely playing behind Palace walls. After weeks of speculation, reports suggest Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, have agreed to vacate their longtime residence, the 30-room Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park. The lavish estate, which the pair have shared since 2008 despite divorcing years earlier, has become the latest flashpoint of public frustration, especially over Andrew’s 'peppercorn rent' arrangement.
The King now continues to balance compassion and duty. A Palace insider told The Express, "Everyone just wants the matter to be resolved. The longer this is drawn out, the worse it is for His Majesty." They added that Andrew’s departure from Royal Lodge is inevitable. "He's gone. It's a matter of when, not if." Though the exact timeline remains unclear, aides reportedly believe each delay risks diverting attention from the King’s wider goals for the Crown and continues to deplete public trust.
The Waleses are set to move to Forest Lodge, which is just a stone's throw from Royal Lodge, and this has reportedly annoyed the couple. A source similarly told The Daily Mail: "Catherine shudders at the thought of living so close to Royal Lodge while Prince Andrew is still in it. William wants him gone before they start to move in next week. It's not about what Andrew doesn't want to do anymore. It's about what he's going to be told to do." It was also reported earlier that the Waleses had wanted to shift to Royal Lodge before moving to Adelaide Cottage, but the King's disgraced brother did not want to give it up. Thereafter, the family set their hearts on Forest Lodge, a Georgian mansion where they hoped to raise their children.
According to The Sun, a source close to the situation said the Duke of York “is realistic and knows the writing is on the wall and that his time at the Royal Lodge is up.” The insider added that while Andrew is “willing to leave,” he’s doing so with conditions. “These are his demands. It’s incredible that he and Sarah are willing to go their separate ways after all these years, but it indicates that they’ve been under immense strain and need a break from each other. It’s a fresh start for both.”