Prince Andrew To Keep Royal Lodge After Eviction Row With King Charles — At Least Until 2028
Prince Andrew wins the right to stay at Royal Lodge, but the battle over funds, reputation, and royal ties is far from over.
Prince Andrew has emerged victorious in his long-running eviction row with King Charles over his right to remain at Royal Lodge, his sprawling 19th-century Windsor residence. According to recent reports, despite the King's ongoing efforts to relocate his younger brother to the more manageable Frogmore Cottage—once home to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle—Andrew has remained steadfast. Backed by a legally binding 75-year lease signed in 2003 with the Crown Estate, the disgraced Duke of York has retained his right to stay at Royal Lodge until 2028 at least.
According to The Express, Charles has now given up attempts to remove Andrew from the property. "He has won the row," the outlet quoted a Palace insider as having said. While Andrew might be staying put, royal experts say this should not be mistaken for any personal or public redemption. “This is a limited pyrrhic win,” royal commentator Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital. “He’s certainly not reclaiming any stature either in public or within his own family. His staying in Royal Lodge is simply due to his legal rights, not because of any goodwill or favor from the King.”
The Royal Lodge, though grand, is old and costly to maintain. The property suffers from dampness, peeling paint, structural cracks, and falling plaster. The upkeep, according to estimates, costs several million dollars annually, an expense that Andrew— no longer a working royal and with a tarnished reputation— will have to shoulder largely on his own. “Public scrutiny of royal spending is intense,” Fordwich warned. “It will further destroy his relationship with both his family and the public as he is an entitled embarrassment to both.” The sweet win, however, won't be for long. Fordwich explained, "In 2028, this issue may well be revisited. The Crown Estate will then have new grounds to review or revoke the lease due to property maintenance disputes."
So, exactly how Andrew would fund his lifestyle and maintain Royal Lodge remains the biggest unanswered question. The Sunday Times reported that the funds Andrew presented to retain the property were vetted and approved by the Keeper of the Privy Purse, who confirmed they came from 'legitimate sources.' “There’s no doubt that Charles is the one who is providing the money for Andrew, because the [late] Queen wouldn’t have left Andrew bereft,” royal expert Ingrid Seward previously told Fox News Digital. “She either would have made provisions for Andrew before she died or would’ve made them through Charles.”
Another Palace source quoted by Seward said they’d heard at an elite private gathering that 'Charles has paid for it all,' though they added that taxpayer money was not involved. Andrew's only known consistent income is his Royal Navy pension. Over the years, he has reportedly spent more than $9 million on the disputed residence, including an initial $1 million to take it over and an ongoing annual rent of $337,000. Meanwhile, security has become a sticking point. After losing police protection in 2022, Andrew’s private security was funded by the King, until recently. The Sunday Times reported that the King chose not to renew that arrangement, which cost nearly $4 million annually.
Andrew, 65, stepped back from royal duties following public backlash over his friendship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Since then, his appearances at royal events have been rare and carefully managed. “The only time he’s been seen at any family functions publicly was earlier this year in Windsor at Easter Sunday services and the Garter Day lunch,” Fordwich noted. “He was conspicuously absent from everything else.”
